(a) Margate

Match report and photos from December’s home game against Margate

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Fixtures and Results for the First Team

MARGATE 1, HARLOW TOWN 1

Ryman Football League, premier division 29/03/08

Match report by BILLY SHAW

Photography by DENISE JEFFERY

THERE was a second scoring draw inside a week for Harlow Town, with Kenny Davis equalizing at Margate to give them a useful point in their battle to beat the drop.

The 1-1 scoreline was a repeat result of the clash between the two sides at Barrows Farm on 8th December, and again saw Ryan Kirby leading his troops against his former Stevenage Borough colleague Robin Trott, who is himself the player/boss at Hartsdown Park.

A broken nose meant James Bunn had to start on the bench, paving the way for James Lindie to start alongside Southend United colleague Rhys Henry to form the Hawks’ attack.

Alongside Bunn in the dugout was defender Leo Roget, who was named but not used as a substitute after recovering from a chest infection followed by a hamstring injury.

Played on high ground and engulfed by a swirling wind, the game proved entertaining from the outset, although many high balls lingered in the air for longer than normal.

Quick thinking by midfielder Jordan Fowler saw him lay off Kenny Davis in the ninth minute after a Leon Lalite free kick was wasted, with Davis forcing a low save to his left from Margate custodian Scott Chalmers-Stevens.

Harlow keeper James Hasell got out of jail after an atrocious kick was repelled by the wind on 13 minutes, with Rob Haworth running on to head just wide with Hasell committed on the 18-yard line.

Defender Louis Smith was lucky to escape with a caution after he appeared to be the last man when he hauled down James Lindie four minutes later, while the hosts were lucky to escape without conceding – Mark Taylor’s free kick saw Chalmers-Stevens dive to his left to keep the ball out, with Robin Trott subsequently kicking away the danger.

With the game still fast-paced and windy, Hasell made a good take after a firm Haworth header from a Jimmy Jackson free kick mid-way through the half, while five minutes before the break, Haworth appeared to kick the grounded Mark Taylor in the head, an incident which saw him join Smith in the book.

Eleven minutes after the restart, a clever one-two passing sequence between Danny Green and Rhys Henry on the left of the box led to the former unleashing a shot, which was well charged down by a defender. Leon Lalite subsequently won a free kick, which Taylor planted into the wall.

Of all the visiting players, it was Kenny Davis who displayed the most determination, and as he led the charge down the right, he produced a fine save from Chalmers-Stevens with a right-footed shot on the hour mark after exchanging passes with Henry.

A minute later, James Pinnock wastefully shot over the bar, before he put his side in front on 64 minutes.

Ryan Martin fought off the challenge of Beckett Hollenbach on the right flank before passing through a static defensive line to Ryan Peters, who in turn laid off this season’s top Margate marksman to smash past Hasell.

A crisp strike by James Lindie at the other end would certainly have found the bottom corner from 18 yards had it not been for the outstretched left glove of the keeper on 69 minutes. This proved one of Lindie’s last contributions as he was replaced by Bunn two minutes later, who braved a broken nose to make his 50th first team appearance for the Hawks.

It was the sheer determination of Davis that led to the visitors drawing level with 14 minutes to go.

After a great solo run by the winger, in which he beat three defenders, he fed Fowler deep on the right, whose attempted cross deflected off a defender high into the air.

With the ball lingering in the wind, Davis valiantly battled through a mass of bodies in the area and got his head to the falling ball, which found its way over the keeper and dropped into the far corner of the net.

Mark Taylor was booked for chopping down Jimmy Jackson in a tackle on 84 minutes, while Chalmers-Stevens did well to hold a shot from Rhys Henry, after the work experience player had latched onto a huge kick from Hasell.

Haworth pulled a shot inches wide in the 90th minute, before Harlow’s Henry was booked for kicking the ball away.

Bunn had the last chance of the game, but after going forward, his effort was charged down by Trott.

Harlow Tn: James Hasell, Kenny Davis, Mark Taylor (sub: Clark Akers, 89), Beckett Hollenbach, Ryan Kirby, Danny Chapman, Leon Lalite, Danny Green, James Lindie (sub: James Bunn, 71), Jordan Fowler, Rhys Henry. Subs not used: Kevin Warren, Leo Roget, Michael Dumoulin (GK).