Margate ended their ten-year exile from what is now named the National League South beating ten-man Hendon one-nil at Earlsmead, Harrow.

Margate were the better side throughout and were certainly assisted after an unnecessary off-the-floor lunge by Aaron Morgan reduced Hendon to ten men with only eighteen minutes on the clock.

 

Margate’s Charlie Allen almost gave his side the lead inside three minutes, picking up a loose ball on halfway and marauding forward only to see his strike from range sail harmlessly over the bar.

Just before the quarter hour mark tempers frayed as Ryan Moss and Oliver Sprague came together after the Margate No’9 put in a ‘strikers tackle’ – Sprague reacted which resulted in a head to head with host captain Kevin MacLaren also getting involved – Moss and Sprague picking up cautions.

As the game threatened to explode it did as Hendon lost striker Morgan soon after lunging for the ball high and late on Tambeson Eyong – The referee making the right call to send off Morgan who, in fairness, made no case for a wrongful dismissal and duly made his way to the dressing room.

Margate threatened to take the game away from their hosts, taking full advantage of the extra man as Freddie Ladapo turned on a ball in the box but couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet and get a shot in. Shortly after Allen struck a half volley well just left of centre outside the box but Ben McNamara pulled off a fine save to push it wide from goal.

Kane Wills then took on the mantle with two efforts in quick succession as one effort went narrowly wide of goal with McNamara scrambling but unable to reach it and then the ‘keeper saving well from another shot from long range, holding onto the ball.

Eyong, booed by home fans after the Morgan incident, found space on the right hand side and, cutting inside, shot low and left footed with the ‘keeper once again on hand to save well low to his left.

The one-way traffic and man advantage then made its impact known, and with it what transpired to be the only and winning goal – Lapado picked up the ball to the left of the penalty area and put in a low cross along the six-yard line which evaded Hendon’s defensive line and left the well placed Moss in front of goal with the simplest of tasks to put the ball home which he duly did in front of the ecstatic away following.

As the half came to a close McNamara once again came to his sides rescue somehow keeping out a string of chances from Lapado, Moss and Allen respectively – Lewis Taylor doing good work to get to the by-line to create the opportunity.

The hosts’ boss would no doubt have been happy to get his side in at half-time only one-goal down and rumours were rife in the stands of an altercation in the tunnel during the interval which turned out unproven with no action taken – Whether something comes out post-match we will see – To fuel the rumour Hendon substituted Andre Da Costa and Margate substituted goal-scorer Moss during the half time break.

Margate had the first opportunity of the second half as Sam Rents’ shot from range had the beating of McNamara but went wide of the ‘keepers right hand post. Hendon countered it soon after, reminding their visitors they were still in a game as Lee O’Leary found space in the box but dallied too long and failed to get a shot in on goal as the Margate back line resisted

Lewis Taylor soon found a shot of his own well saved albeit straight at the host ‘keeper after good work by Allen and a near post flick-on by Lapado and Taylor was again denied soon after seeing his half-volley blocked by McNamara.

As the game entered the final quarter the hosts, vying for the all important equaliser, put Margate under plenty of pressure but the back line of the visitors was resolute and impenetrable finding it tough to test Nikki Bull in goal.

With just over fifteen minutes remaining Kezie Ibe found space in Margate’s penalty area but his snap-shot went well over but nonetheless provided the visitors with a warning they wouldn’t get their own way for the remainder of the game and soon after a wind-assisted header towards goal was well intercepted by the last man Charlie Wassmer who’s intervention stopped substitute Leon Smith a one-on-one chance – The perfectly timed tackle crucial and very brave in the circumstances – A wrong move and a penalty and red card will undoubtedly have resulted

The final chance of the game fell to the ever more desperate hosts as a goal-bound shot through a crowd in the box hit team-mate Dave Diedhiou and to compound Hendon’s misery, the unfortunate Diedhiou was also flagged offside with the chance inevitably going begging.

The referee indicated three additional minutes of play where no cause for alarm resulted and upon the final whistle Margate players fell to their knees whilst some ran to the dugout, embracing and celebrating with the management and coaching staff whilst Margate fans invaded the pitch to celebrate their promotion with their heroes – Well done Margate.

Their aim at the start of the season was to seal promotion and although it required an additional 180 minutes of tough football, they did it and will join a whole host of other Kent sides in National League South for the 15/16 season.

 

Hendon: McNamara, Flegg, Sprague (Taggart, 84), C. MacLaren, Goode, K. MacLaren ©, Diedhiou, O’Leary (Dean, 74), Morgan, Ibe, Da Costa (Smith, HT)

Subs not used: Murray, McNicholas

 

Margate: Bull ©, Eyong, Rents, Phipp, Wassmer, Johnson, L. Taylor, Wills, Moss (J. Taylor, HT), Ladapo, Allen (Beales, 90+1)

Subs not used: James, Riviere, Bennett

 

Goals: Moss (39)

Att; 1,228

 

Some images supplied by Don Walker.