On Saturday afternoon Phoenix Sports and Margate meet in an Isthmian League South East Division match at the Christopher Russell Stadium, Barnehurst.

At present, Darren Anslow’s Phoenix are bottom of the table and are one of three clubs on seven points, six adrift of safety. Their most recent match was a three-one defeat at Sheppey United last Saturday. They were two-nil down at the break but Richard Pingling pulled one back midway through the second half and they were still in the game until Frankie Maclioca put it to bed in stoppage time.

Three days later, Margate hosted Sheppey in the Velocity Cup and were beaten four-two. Their last league game was a two-all draw at home to Erith Town. They were one down to a Ross Craig goal at half time and James Dyer looked to have settled the match when scoring eighteen minutes from time. However, Brandon Davey pulled one back a minute later, and Max Walsh rescued a point in stoppage time. The Gate are currently in fourth place.

Away from home, Ben Greenhalgh’s have won seven, drawn one and lost one, which was their only league defeat this season. All seven of the Sports’ points have been won on their own soil with two wins and a draw from their nine home games. There has only been one recent game between the two teams, a 2019 Kent Senior Cup match at Hartsdown Park which Phoenix won four-one, including a Ben Allen hat-trick.

It is likely to be an emotional day following the sad news that Phoenix Vice-Chairman Steve House passed away this week. There will be a minute’s silence before the game as a mark of respect to him and in thanks for his twenty-two years on the club’s board.