Matches

BLUES ALL FIRED UP by Carol Smith-Allen

Blues last night maintained their fine start to the season at Ashford Town’s Ground, The Homelands, with a 6-0 demolition of Margate FC.

With Blues again sporting their new purple away strip and Margate in their deep royal blue kit, it soon became apparent that it would be difficult to tell the teams apart. So within two minutes of the kick-off the referee Mr. Mellack, halted play whilst the Grays players changed into Ashford Town ‘grassy’ green and navy shirts. Only problem was that the numbers now on their shirts did not match their official team sheet numbers, leaving the Margate announcers a bit confused.

The match then got underway on a fairly even keel. Margate came close to opening the scoring on 5 minutes when Peter Benevide’s 40 yard half-volley went narrowly wide. Shortly afterwards Rocky Baptiste having beaten his defender put in a cross to the waiting Benevides and Stadhart, but Carl Emberson was quicker than either of the Gate players.

As the half progressed, Blues began to dominate possession, and chances fell to Mitchell Cole and Martin Carthy, both heading just wide of Scott Ward’s goal. Then on 26 minutes Blues took the lead; a long ball found Liam George out on the right, he turned his defender, took the ball around Scott Ward, and from a difficult angle slotted it into the back of the net.

Almost immediately, Margate could have equalised had it not been for Emberson producing an excellent save from Pat Gradley’s six yard effort. By the same token, Blues could have made it two on 35 minutes. Dean Brennan’s corner somehow managed to just miss the perfectly placed Eddie Youd’s head.

Two minutes from the interval Gate had a golden opportunity, but Greg Oates’ shot was blocked by the stout defending of Youds.

Having edged the first-half Grays deserved their lead, but nothing could have prepared Margate for the rout that was to come in the second period.

Blues started on the offensive and doubled their advantage on 54 minutes. A shot by Mitchell Cole wasn’t properly cleared, and Liam George’s low drive found the back of the net. Minutes later and Blues made it three; a lovely cross from the left was headed in superbly by Carthy.

The next chance fell to Margate when Oates floated in a free-kick only for Baptiste to head just wide of goal. From then on in things went from bad to worse for the home side.

Blues made a double substitution on 68 minutes with Eastwood and Powell replacing Griffiths and George, and it wasn’t long before both players had made their mark. First it was Eastwood on 76 minutes when he fired a low left-footed shot under Scott Ward’s body. Four minutes later it was Powell’s turn; Ward stopped but couldn’t hold Thurgood’s shot, and Powell was on hand to hit home.

Blues had again left the best until last - four minutes from time Eastwood scored the most spectacular of goals. He picked the ball up, at an acute angle to the right of goal, and hooked it into the left-hand uppermost corner of the net - Blue’s fans were ecstatic.

Another good all-round team performance from Blues, and a great confidence boosting result for them, as they now make the trip to the Wessex Stadium at the weekend to play Weymouth, in what might prove to be a more difficult match.

Teams:-
Margate:- Ward, Oates, Green, Barnett, Annon, Gradley, Benevides, Keister, Clarke, Stadhart, Baptiste Subs:- Hussain, Jjunju, Charalambous, Pulman, Ngongu
Grays Athletic:- Emberson, Bruce, Lunan, Robinson, Youds, Thurgood, Brennan, Carthy, Griffiths, George, Cole Subs:- Bradshaw (on for Cole 79 mins), Overland, Eastwood (on for Griffiths 68 mins), Wild, Powell (on for George 68 mins)

Referee:- Mr. Mellack

Forthcoming fixtures