Matches

"GET OUT OF JAIL" MARGATE LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
by David Jarvis

The magic of the Cup dealt a cruel blow to Grays today as Blues saw a two-goal second half lead slip to Conference side Margate. But there was controversy as all three of Gate’s goals came in time added on by the referee for stoppages – the third a full nine minutes into injury time.

Two exquisitely-executed strikers’ goals from Man of the Match Leroy Griffiths and a wonder strike from Freddie Eastwood had most Grays fans thinking a place in the First Round Proper was assured. But Margate had other ideas; as, perhaps, did referee Mr. Singh.

Blues settled quickly and outplayed ’Gate throughout the first half. After just 6 minutes Leroy Griffiths opened the scoring with Blues’ first attempt on goal. Eddie Youds met a Ram Marwa free kick from the right. Youds’ downward header was parried by ’Gate keeper Phil Smith but Griffiths pounced to slot the ball home.

Griffiths tormented Margate captain Graham Porter all afternoon and after 25 minutes, Porter struggled with a Stuart Thurgood through ball. Griffiths was there again to lash the ball into the far corner to claim his second goal.

In injury time at the end of the first half, Margate were trying to claw themselves back into the game, but with little success. Nevertheless, a free kick on the right swept in by winger Adrian Clarke saw a scramble in the box. Although the ball was cleared, Mr Singh saw something untoward and instantly pointed to the spot.

Clarke stepped up to take the penalty and confidently side-footed the ball past Mel Capleton. It was ‘Gate’s first shot on target in the first half. However Mr Singh ordered the kick be taken again after encroachment into the penalty area from the Margate players. Although Capleton went the right way the second time, the outcome was the same, making the half-time scoreline 2-1.

Grays started well again in the second half and with Margate throwing more men forward, solid goal-scoring chances came to both Griffiths and Eastwood. Then on 81 minutes, Eastwood turned one defender on the left wing and from the corner of the box crashed home a spectacular effort for Grays to go 3-1 up.

With regulation time almost over, Margate couldn’t get another shot on target even when Blues’ ’keeper Mel Capleton found himself stranded by the corner flag.

Nevertheless, a minute into injury time, a well-delivered corner from the right was met by a bunch of Margate players and Darren Watson appeared to bundle the ball home. This set up a tense finish for Grays fans as the clock ran down.

However, both Grays and Margate fans must have been surprised to still be playing at 4.55 when Margate were awarded another corner. An identikit effort to Gate’s second goal, this time the whipped corner was met by Jay Saunders to bring Gate onto level terms.

Margate had been played off the park by a committed and determined Grays team but the cruel hand of fate – helped along by referee Mr Singh – had given 'Gate a priceless Get Out Of Jail Free card, and another shot at the first round.

Meanwhile Mark Stimson must compose his young side and produce a similarly strong performance if Blues are to gain a prized place in the First Round Proper at Dover Athletic’s Crabble ground on Tuesday night.

Grays Athletic Capleton, Williams, Robinson, Youds, Lunan, Thurgood, Marwa, Carthy, Eastwood, Lock, Griffiths
Subs: Stimson, Barrett, Bruce, Heathcote, Bradshaw

Booked: Williams, Eastwood, Carthy

Margate Smith, Oates, Annon, Sodje, Zoricich, Porter, Clarke, Omoyinmi, Leberl, Sigere, Saunders
Subs: Stadhart, Watson, Edwards, McFlynn, Mitten

Booked: Stadhart, Porter

Attendance: TBC

Your comments

i personally feel that this game was a fix as there was several poor decisons by the referee and the amount of injury time played was a complete farce.......i have never been to a game where the referee has obviously realised that what he had done was a mistake and that he had to lock himself in his changing room in fear of any reprisals that he quite obviouslry deserved.........

What daylight robbery i cannot beleive the referee added so much time on this is not sour grapes we were far the better team and out played a boring route one margate team if you lose you lose but to be cheated is hard to take, "COME ON YOU BLUES GO TO MARGATE AND SHOW THEM WHO,S THE BEST TEAM" i understand that it will be the same referee again lets hope he will be more fair to us this time (But i doubt it) What i think of him cannot be written on this website he should be reported.

An extra minute over one would possibly accept but nine minutes injury time in the second half to add to an extra amount at the end of the first half is beyond belief. This referee if you can allow him that title should stand and explain the reasons for the extra time played.I believe his involvement in the replay should be removed as he obviously has a bias towards Margate.

I like everyone else who who was at the game cannot beleive the referee added so much time on can it be that he is being paid by margate as we all know they need a good cup run to help their survival, (Otherwise he is just an incompetent idiot who should be taken off the referee,s list)

I just can't believe it...I have never been so disappointed, angry and upset after a game than today. We played really well today but were never going to win when playing against the referee. Maybe Mr Singh had seen comments on the message board earlier in the week and popped down to Corals this morning and snapped up the odds on a draw.
The club should lodge an official complaint and the FA should look at the facts and appoint a different referee for the replay. I would be astounded if the Margate team, fans and management agreed with nine minuutes of injury time!

I understand the referee had to lock himself in his dressing room after the game its a pity someone did'nt through away the key, surely Grays must put in a complaint and ask for a different referee for the replay as we will get cheated again as this referee is a cheat or is bent.

I cant believe what i saw today at the rec! What a game Grays played i think that although Mr Singh was totally off his rocker to allow 9 MORE MINUTES of extra time! Grays played really well! We should take this consistancy though to the Tuesday nights match! And hope Grays can pull it off! COME ON YOU BLUES!

This was one of the worst kind of refs, one that tries to cover up his bias with snide bits of crawling to the aggrieved team. He made Margate re-take the penalty just to take the attention away from what was to come later. It was so obvious by the time he let 'Gate score the third and then blew for time immediately after we kicked off....total rubbish. What the penalty was for is anyones guess? Whatever happened was nothing compared to the thug captain at 6 who was all over Leroy closer than a Mexican whore at confession then pleading innocence straight afterwards. Once again a sharp sighted referee for the petty stuff, but totally blind to anything serious. He even allowed the linesman to give an offside when every player bar the Margate keeper was in the Grays half????? I hear he will ref the game on Tuesday!! and I'm sure he will get a red-carpet welcome at Dover. By the way, the thug captain threw a ball at Stimmo when he hobbled off (knackered!) at the end and I also hear that the Margate fans have demanded an apology after Stimmo reacted to him verbally. Margate fans please find some self respect and stop dancing round like you won the Cup. You were out played by a lower league team and allowed to play on until it suited you. What pride have you possibly got? I don't think I'd have been happy coming back from somewhere like Barton Rovers with a 3-3 draw, your team stank until injury time.....but how did they know that would be available???.. makes you wonder doesn't it.

You really are sour grapes. Your blatent cheating and time wasting every time a player of yours was fouled more than added up to 9 minutes. agree that we were poor, but your cheating and disgraceful raection from your manager didn't help! COME ON GATE! LETS SEND THESE COCKNEYS BACK INTO THE GUTTER!

To Margate fan your boring route one game is rubbish i would'nt like to watch that sort of football every week and your bully boy tactics are a disgrace to the conference the best player on your team was the one wearing the black shirt we will stuff you in the replay, even if mr singh makes sure you win you will be crushed by Aldershot your not in their class

OK, I can understand tensions are running high after the game, but Oakley & Margate Fan I have had to remove your posts due to their offensive content.

Let's keep it gentlemanly. Thankyou.

Singh will certainly get a red carpet welcome at Dover.

He has kept us in the FA Cup with his no-nonsense refereeing.

1) He gave us a penno after your lads were pulling the shirts off our backs.
2) He made us re-take after encroachment.
3) Wouldn't stand for the play-acting so was brave enough to add the time on.

We were dancing around as we need the money badly. The fans are all having to chip in to pay the wages at the current time so dont you think we should be delighted! 10K prize money is like xmas come early for us and the gate Aldershot will bring will be a nice little earner.

Agree with most of the comments you Gray's fans have written. We played VERY poorly, and can see why you feel cheated of your win. Although as you may have spoted in the last 10mins of extra time. (Yes, it was a bit long wasn't it?) There is something in the margate team that was the reason we are where we are now, playing Confrence football. Im hoping for a better performance on tuesday and hope we can play like we did for the last few minuted for the full 90mins next time. Good game by Grays, and looking forward to seeing you at DOVER. (Please no one turn up to Hartsdown)

Moaning Grays 2 i couldn't believe it" etc ...... pathetic your clown of a goalkeeper cost you about 3 minutes of wasted time, kicking the ball away by several players of yours cost you the remainder. Mr J Singh is a highly respected ref. the likes of which you don't get in the Ryman League. Of rather Ryman North One as your ground ain't up to Confrerence " or Conference standards. You should have won but you didn't capitalize on a poor Margate performance. Accept it or go away

And another thing. I do't think it was necessary for your foul-mouthed Manager to threaten our Graham Porter with violence.

Margate should win on moral grounds on Tuesday

True we were robbed by the amount of extra time BUT and it is a big but we should never have let them back in it. WE need to be BIG and consolidate a lead for HOWEVER long the match runs. The game is not over til ist over - SO come on Blues lets play them off the their 'borrowed' park on Tuesday.

Lets face it we were beaten by the turbanaitor and if he does control Tuesdays game we will be at a huge disadvantage before we start, but we can overcome them if we continue to play as we did Saturday.Perhaps the FA could arrange for Singh to attend a local infant school where they will surely have a good attempt at convincing him that 45 and 4 don`t make 54.

What a disaster, I am still in shock. Grays totally out played Margate, whos fans even admitted they were 'lucky b******s' having 'that' ref on their side. The grays players must have been like rabbits in car headlights during the 9 minutes of injury time, no wonder they conceded 2. I just hope justice is done on tuesday, by the way Stimmo had every right to have the hump, he had just been robbed.

WASNT THERE BUT JUDGING BY REMARKS REFEREES TOO OFTEN "dont" ADD ON THE TIME WHEN THE PLAYER IS DOWN INJURED."dosent" ADD TIME ON WHEN THE BALL IS OUT OF PLAY."dosent" ADD TIME ON WHEN SUBS ARE MADE AND ON THE WHOLE "dosent" PLAY THE FULL NINETY MINUTES. IF ALL THAT IS TRUE FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD THE REFEREE DID HIS JOB CORRECTLY. IF ONLY OTHERS DID THE SAME.WELL DONE THE REF.

Yes Mr. Nice Guy, quite correct....but would he have done it if Margate where winning 3-1. I think not. The ref was on first name terms with Margate manager because they see him in the conference on a regular basis. Had it been a Ryman Ref some of the decisions would undoubtedly been appalling, but equally appalling for both teams. I agree with refs doing the job properly, but that needs to be 100% of the time, not just when it suits your chums.
As for the Porter thing, it was only verbal abuse, Porter actually threw something at Stimmo?? Stimmo commanded over £2million in transfer fees whilst a senior player, who and what does Porter think he is to believe his behaviour is justified? If he don't want to get verbals, don't throw your balls around. (assuming he's got any!)

Stimmo is a true professional and only reacted because he was provoked. How cowardly and unprofessional is throwing a ball in someones face? Also, the amount of time added on was ridiculous. If you look at the papers today the goal times say it all 45, 90, 90. We were robbed.

The game is now at Ashfords ground. Junction 10 off M20. See you

OK, we were out played for the first 90 minutes, the (margate) players did not add the time on and the Margate side played until the final whistle, you cannot assume you have won. Conference football is a level above Ryman (fact), although the gap continues to narrow, as does conference to football league!

We have to face top level teams week in week out who punish you for the slightest error, especially late in the game. Get out of jail or the great escape call it whatever you will, but Margate played to the end!

A certain individual has posted an extremely offensive remark about the ref a few posts above. Webmaster remove it or I'll call the Essex police

FAO Racist Watcher

Which post are you referring to?? I cannot find one that contains what I would consider to be an extremely offensive remark.

I concur with Carol.

Our terms of use specify that users post of their own accord - what people post has nothing to do with the club and we reserve the right to remove posts as we see fit.

How can the Essex police have anything to do with it? Or is that a thinly veiled threat?

If you have a problem you should direct your complaint at the person responsible, not this football club or website.

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