Post by Stewart on Apr 16, 2009 9:50:25 GMT
From www.margate-fc.com/index.php
Blues and U’s
Preview: MFC vs Sutton United – Hartsdown Park
Saturday 18th April, 2009 – Kick-off 3.00pm
Margate play their penultimate game of the current season at home to play-off chasing Sutton United on Saturday. The Blues will need to take all three points and continue to hope that other results go their way to stave off relegation.
And don’t forget that the end of season presentations follow this game so why join us in the Hartsdown after the match?
When the two sides met at Gander Green Lane in January, Sutton emerged as winners with two late goals.
It was in the first half that rather than losing the game, Margate failed to win it. With four good chances, including a number of one-on-ones with the U’s keeper, a Bailey chip that went over the keeper and the bar and another shot straight at the keeper, the Blues didn’t make their superiority count.
The home side won the contest in second half added time. Firstly midfielder Dean Palmer headed in from a free kick as Margate were reduced to 10 men with Harwood’s (arguably harsh) second yellow card. Then a minute later top scorer Gavin McCallum scored his 14th goal of the season to ensure there was no way back for the Blues.
Realistically, Margate are looking at catching either Hastings or Boreham Wood. On current form, Hastings are a point ahead of Margate with eight from a possible 18 points in their last six games, whereas Boreham Wood are two points behind with five from 18. Harlow (five form 18) are below Gate in the form table as well as the full league table, and it’s beginning to look like two from this group of four to join Heybridge Swifts and Ramsgate in the division below for next season.
Gate have shown much improved home form in the second half of the season, having accrued 13 points from the last 18 on offer at Hartsdown Park, to leave them with a ranking of equal second.
Skipper Dan Young feels the Blues shouldn’t be in the position they are in. “We’re a good team, we don’t deserve to be down here,” he said. “But we’ve got to keep going. We’ve got two games left – I think it’s vital that we win them both.
“We’re all still confident we’ll have a fighting chance” he added.
Margate will be without Kieran Morris – who has impressed at the back over recent games - through suspension; Luke Wheatley could return to the centre of defence.
Kieran Morris misses out through suspension
Sutton opened their season post relegation from Blue Square South in mixed fashion but from the season’s half-way mark, have been consistently in the play-off places. This is all the more remarkable – and perhaps says something about the competition at that end of the table – considering the U’s have won just three of their last 15 league games, since the beginning of February.
Currently ranked nine in the current form table, the Gander Green Lane based club have taken nine from a possible 18 points. With just one defeat at home all season, Sutton’s achilles heel has been their away from where they have failed to win on 13 occasions.
Steve McKimm – former Margate player-coach could make his first return to Hartsdown Park since his departure last season. But Canadian born striker Gavin McCallum will be the man to watch, having scored 14 goals in 34 starts for the U’s.
Margate didn’t need to be at their best to beat Ramsgate on Easter Monday, but with Sutton yet to cement a place in the play-offs, the Blues will need to up their game to secure more vital points in their bid to avoid the drop. If Margate lose to Sutton and Boreham Wood and Hastings get anything from their games against Billericay and Hendon respectively, the Blues are down.
This Season
MARGATE
League Form: L D W L L W
19th: Pld 40; W 12; D 7; L 21; GF 48; GA 60; Pts 43; GD -12
Home: W 7; D 4; L 9; GF 27; GA 29
Away: W 5; D 3; L 12; GF 21; GA 31
Sutton United
League Form: D L D W W D
4th: Pld 40; W 17; D 13; L 10; GF 55; GA 50; Pts 64; GD 5
Home: W 10; D 9; L 1; GF 31; GA 18
Away: W 7; D 4; L 9; GF 24; GA 32
Blues and U’s
Preview: MFC vs Sutton United – Hartsdown Park
Saturday 18th April, 2009 – Kick-off 3.00pm
Margate play their penultimate game of the current season at home to play-off chasing Sutton United on Saturday. The Blues will need to take all three points and continue to hope that other results go their way to stave off relegation.
And don’t forget that the end of season presentations follow this game so why join us in the Hartsdown after the match?
When the two sides met at Gander Green Lane in January, Sutton emerged as winners with two late goals.
It was in the first half that rather than losing the game, Margate failed to win it. With four good chances, including a number of one-on-ones with the U’s keeper, a Bailey chip that went over the keeper and the bar and another shot straight at the keeper, the Blues didn’t make their superiority count.
The home side won the contest in second half added time. Firstly midfielder Dean Palmer headed in from a free kick as Margate were reduced to 10 men with Harwood’s (arguably harsh) second yellow card. Then a minute later top scorer Gavin McCallum scored his 14th goal of the season to ensure there was no way back for the Blues.
Realistically, Margate are looking at catching either Hastings or Boreham Wood. On current form, Hastings are a point ahead of Margate with eight from a possible 18 points in their last six games, whereas Boreham Wood are two points behind with five from 18. Harlow (five form 18) are below Gate in the form table as well as the full league table, and it’s beginning to look like two from this group of four to join Heybridge Swifts and Ramsgate in the division below for next season.
Gate have shown much improved home form in the second half of the season, having accrued 13 points from the last 18 on offer at Hartsdown Park, to leave them with a ranking of equal second.
Skipper Dan Young feels the Blues shouldn’t be in the position they are in. “We’re a good team, we don’t deserve to be down here,” he said. “But we’ve got to keep going. We’ve got two games left – I think it’s vital that we win them both.
“We’re all still confident we’ll have a fighting chance” he added.
Margate will be without Kieran Morris – who has impressed at the back over recent games - through suspension; Luke Wheatley could return to the centre of defence.
Kieran Morris misses out through suspension
Sutton opened their season post relegation from Blue Square South in mixed fashion but from the season’s half-way mark, have been consistently in the play-off places. This is all the more remarkable – and perhaps says something about the competition at that end of the table – considering the U’s have won just three of their last 15 league games, since the beginning of February.
Currently ranked nine in the current form table, the Gander Green Lane based club have taken nine from a possible 18 points. With just one defeat at home all season, Sutton’s achilles heel has been their away from where they have failed to win on 13 occasions.
Steve McKimm – former Margate player-coach could make his first return to Hartsdown Park since his departure last season. But Canadian born striker Gavin McCallum will be the man to watch, having scored 14 goals in 34 starts for the U’s.
Margate didn’t need to be at their best to beat Ramsgate on Easter Monday, but with Sutton yet to cement a place in the play-offs, the Blues will need to up their game to secure more vital points in their bid to avoid the drop. If Margate lose to Sutton and Boreham Wood and Hastings get anything from their games against Billericay and Hendon respectively, the Blues are down.
This Season
MARGATE
League Form: L D W L L W
19th: Pld 40; W 12; D 7; L 21; GF 48; GA 60; Pts 43; GD -12
Home: W 7; D 4; L 9; GF 27; GA 29
Away: W 5; D 3; L 12; GF 21; GA 31
Sutton United
League Form: D L D W W D
4th: Pld 40; W 17; D 13; L 10; GF 55; GA 50; Pts 64; GD 5
Home: W 10; D 9; L 1; GF 31; GA 18
Away: W 7; D 4; L 9; GF 24; GA 32
even though we are relegated ourselves and we have had a shocking season it would make our season if Margate come down with us 