Wealdstone 0 – Margate
Wealdstone
0 - 4
MargateTake nothing away from Margate – they deserved their win because they took the chances they were offered, but this was a poor game between two poor sides, one of whom seemed determined to self destruct.
Stones could have taken an early lead through Beckford – his shot was wide, Burton – whose 40 yarder hit the crossbar and should have through Zoricich who chipped a volley over the bar when he may have been better to head the ball home, and they though they had taken the lead when Evans scored from a corner only for Cort to be adjudged to have pushed and the ‘goal’ was disallowed.
In stead, Stones conceded a throw in just in the visitors half, allowed the ball to be unchallenged, then watched as a pass was knocked into the path of the unmarked Yiga who beat the advancing Jackson with a low strike on 24 minutes.
Stones continued as they had started, having the majority of the possession, but the final ball into the front two was lacking, and the chances Stones did create were limited, though Josh Cooper in midfield again ran tirelessly for 90 minutes and was unlucky on a couple of occasions when breaking through the visitors back line that his teammates were at some distance and too far to take benefit.
Margate’s second goal was scored – with their third attack – on 44 minutes. Evans giving away a free kick just outside the box, and with Jackson seemingly unsure of his wall and standing more behind them that to the side, Hockton stepped up and with more than a third of the goal to aim at, made no mistake with the kick.
The second half started with Stones tearing their visitors apart. Beckford and Cort for once did get the service and both had chances to reduce the deficit. a couple of saves from Behcot in goal before he was replaced with an injury by Mitten, and Beckford again struck the post with a shot which bounced safely away, Cort also saw an effort hit the woodwork before it was gathered up. Cooper and Burrell also had efforts saved, and Stones seemed well on top and destines to at least reduce the arrears – Manager Gordon Bartlett making a double substitution to go to three up front and pile on the pressure, but from a Stones corner, Margate extended their lead on 65 minutes.
As the ball broke forward a missed header and a missed tackle allowed Hockton to break and his ball to Brayley gave him almost an open goal, wrong footed Jackson unable to make the save.
Two minutes later it was four as further errors on the halfway line resulted in a Margate break from a Stones attack and Hockton scored his second.
Heads were down and it seemed Stones were finally beaten by their own devices.
Wealdstone: Glen Jackson, Carl Ashton (s45 Graham Hall), Jamie Palmer, Phil Turner (s61 Andy Savage), Luke Evans, Chris Zoricich, Richard Burton, Josh Cooper, Jermaine Beckford, Wayne Cort (s61 Miguel DeSouza), Gary Burrell, Subds not used: Lee Chappell, Luke Smith.