A game played in the teeth of a freezing gale and driving rain deservedly ended level after super sub Charles Ademeno prodded home an 89th minute equaliser to save Terry Brown a point in his first Hartsdown Park game in charge of Margate.

But the Gate’s now boss after the game was full of praise for the way that Hampton had played particularly when playing into the gale. Brown said, “Thought the conditions horrendous just as they were at Hornchurch last week! Thought the game was a credit to both sides, but,” he added with a smile on his face, “I don’t see why Ryman football be played in hurricanes and driving rain!”

“I thought Hampton played very well and were very difficult to break down and I was really please with my players as they showed a lot of character and a lot of resilience second half.”

“It was almost impossible for us to get out of the first half and credit to Hampton as I thought they played against the wind very well second half and I thought we lacked a bot of shape and a little bit of patience – the only way you’re going to break that down is not by pumping long balls forward as its runs through.”

“We should have been more patience and play with more width, but this is early days and I’ve only had one real training session with them.”

“Yes I was pleased with what I saw today. With all my teams, I always believe that if you keep going for 90 minutes you will get the little breaks and we got it at the end and that’s probably about a fair result today!”

With the wind in their faces, the Gate knew the first half would be tough and so it proved although it could have been so different if Rashid Yussuff not been brilliantly denied by Rodney Chiweshe at the very edge of the box after Dean McDonald released him through the middle.

Charlie Moone then showed why he has an ever increasing reputation by first winning a penalty after leaving half the Gate defence in tatters before being fouled. Moone picked himself up and drilled home the spot kick.

Margate were nearly level just past the half hour following a move that almost didn’t happen. A free kick from Jamie Stuart to his defensive partner Joe Vines almost causing Vines to lose the ball.

But the movement did continue and the ball eventually fell to Yussuff who was only denied by a fantastic goal by a brilliant goal line clearance. Hampton were comfortable but yet unable to cope with the gale that was blowing at their backs and got in a terrible mess at the mid point of the half to gift Margate the equaliser.

A long ball into the Hampton box drifted on the wind causing Justyn Roberts to misjudge his header which in turned caused keeper Chiweshe to dwell on the ball outside of his box which in turn fell straight into the arms of the waiting Matt Bodkin who rolled the ball into the empty net.

Whilst the both sides had stuggled with the wind in the first half, both dealt with it brilliantly after the break as the game opened up into a very good contest especially given the conditions.

In the opening stages both Gate keeper Craig Holloway and his opposite number Chiweshe excelled to keep the scoreline level. Moone firstly stung Holloway’s finger tips before Phil Walsh’s drive moved in the wind causing Chiweshe into an astonishing save, before McDonald was then denied by another terrific Chiweshe save as he cut in from the left, only for Hampton left back Joe Turner to burst through at the other end to force Holloway into the best save of the lot.

Bodkin then caused Chiweshe all sorts of problems with a tantalising cross that held up on the wind before dipping horribly – the home side must be complimented for the way their ball into the Hampton box on the wind caused the keeper and his defenders all sorts of problems for all of the second half.

That said, Hampton then went back in front on 68 minutes as they too adapted far better than the hosts had kicking into the ever increasing bitter wind. Moone’s free kick deflected off of the wall and dropping agonisingly over the bar. From the resulting corner, the Margate defence couldn’t clear and it was left to Luke Wanadio to smash the visitors back in front.

Almost immediately the home side rallied and Walsh headed McDonald’s great cross wide. Time was ticking away for Margate and Moone missed a great chance to seal the points five minutes from time as Wanadio played a delightful ball down the channel for his striker to run onto and only a really strong right hand from Holloway kept his side in the game.

Then out of absolutely nothing, sub Ademeno who had been on the pitch for just six minutes unleashed an angled drive that beat Chiweshe all ends up only to cannon back off the inside of the right post before being hacked clear. From the resulting corner it was 2-2 as the sub turned home Vines’ knock down to secure a point that the home sides performance just about warranted.

MARGATE : Holloway, Cox, Dolby, Avery, Stuart, Vines, Bodkin, Kinch (Wilson 61), Walsh, McDonald (Ademeno 81), Yussuff (Whitely 81)

Subs not used – Sammoutis, Ashikodi

HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH – Chiweshe, Brewer, Turner, Lake, Jeffreys, Roberts, Wanadio, Carder, Thompson, Moone, Bradley Simmonds (James Simmonds 86)

Subs not used – Powell, Mills, Brewst

Referee – Nick Dunn
Assistants – Stephen Brown & Simon Finnigan