Margate 1-0 Wealdstone
Margate
1 - 0
WealdstoneWealdstone’s away day blues continued, as they suffered their fourth straight loss on the road this season, going down 1-0 at Margate.
Stones should have gone into this game full of confidence following on from their emphatic 7-0 victory over Tring last Saturday, however they carried little attacking threat, and were unable to penetrate a tough Margate backline. The damage was done in the 69th minute when Margate striker James Pinnock headed in from close range, but the home side will perhaps think they should have already been ahead by this point.
Stones made one change from last weekend’s victory, with four goal hero Danny Burnell starting in place of the injured Greg Ngoyi. Club captain Lee Chappell returned to the bench after missing the previous game, with Wes Parker standing in as skipper once again.
In near perfect football conditions, it was the home side who had the first chance, when just five minutes in James Pinnock fired a high ball into the box. It evaded Stones ‘keeper Jonathan North and found its way to the back post where Shaun Welford somehow prodded the ball wide.
Welford then went close again on 11 minutes when he was presented with a good opportunity from a long throw from the impressive Aaron Lacey, however he could only fire wide when well placed.
Margate now had Wealdstone pressed back inside their own half, and Darren Marsden was the next to go close, showing great skill on the edge of the box, before seeing his deflected shot dip just over the crossbar. This was soon followed up by a penalty shout for the home side, when IshmailKamara’s cross appeared to strike the hand of Alan Massey, however the decision was not given much to the annoyance of the home fans.
Stones made the first substitution of the afternoon on 36 minutes, with Louis Lavers making way for Lee Chappell in a bid strengthen things down the left hand side. Margate had a great chance to take the lead on 40 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. Chris O’leary was adjudged to have tripped Marsden in the box andIshmailKamara stepped up to take it, however his poorly struck kick went way over. It was to be the last chance of the half, with the sides going in level at half time.
Wealdstone looked a bit brighter after the break, seeing a bit more of the ball in the oppositions half, and having their first effort on target when Danny Burnell headed into the goalkeepers arms from Dean Smith’s cross. They also seemed to be defending slightly better, cutting out the high balls into the box which had caused them problems in the first half.
They looked to change things around the hour mark, with Mark E’beyer coming on for Kurtney Brooks and then a few minutes later Danny Spendlove replacing Danny Burnell. The substitutes had only been on the field a few minutes though when Margate took the lead. Marsden fired a free kick into the Wealdstone box, which was met by a great leap from Shaun Welford. The Margate strikers knock down fell straight into the path of James Pinnock leaving him with the simple task of nodding home from 3 yards.
Despite their best efforts, Wealdstone were unable to break the home side down, although they did have a great chance on 85 minutes when the lively Danny Spendlove got down the right hand side and fired a low cross into Mark Ebeyer. The midfielder’s first effort was well blocked by Jamie Turner in the Margate goal, and then his follow up from the rebound went just over the bar.
It was to be Wealdstone’s last effort of the game, as their dreadful record away from home continues. They will be looking to bounce back at home to Carshalton on Monday night, before travelling to Chesham in the FA Cup next Saturday.
Wealdstone: North, Lavers (Chappell), Smith, Parker (c), Massey, Brooks (E’Beyer), Dean, O’leary, Burnell (Spendlove), Fitzgerald, Forbes. Subs not used: Sean Cronin
Steve Foster Match Pics HERE