Worthing v Margate - Match Thread

[Keithsson]

Back to action at Woodside Road and on Saturday we welcome Margate for a crucial fixture.

Back in August we beat then 2-0 at Hartsdown Park thanks to goals from Danny and Ricky. That has already tripled the points we took from them last season having lost at home 1-0 and taken a point on the road in a 1-1 draw (David Ajiboye).  

On the face of it on a run of nine games unbeaten in the league, sitting just three points off top spot in third, the visit of tenth placed Margate shouldn't fill us with massive trepidation. However we made a bit of a meal of finishing off bottom placed Corinthian Casuals last out at home and then came last weeks result for 'Gate. There can be no doubt that winning 3-0 away from home at Horsham was the result of the week.

Did the Hornets, previously in fine form themselves, take that game for granted? or were they worthy winners by their own endeavours? Either way we need to be very wary of our visitors. If we are not spot on in our efforts they are more than capable of ending our fine run. A defeat could drop us as many as three places to 6th, a point should keep us where we are but a win could take us second.

This is a big game for us, we need to take care of our business first and foremost to keep the run going and keep the dream alive. But with the only teams above us playing each other, points have to be lost between us and the summit. A win would be massive.      

IPD League Table - Link

Form wise Margate are currently the 9th best team in the league home and away with 10 points from 18. We may be nine games unbeaten but our drawn games keep us just 5th with 12 points. Looking at the respective home and away form and you'll see further evidence of the need to give 'Gate a great deal of respect. We are the 8th best team for home form with 11 points from the last available 18, but Margate are the 5th best away side with 12 points over the last six away games. In those games, as well as their earthquake result at Horsham, they have taken maximum points back home on the coach from Bowers & Pitsea, Corinthian Casuals and East Thurrock. They travel well. 

IPD Overall Form table (last 6) - Link (toggle through form home/away form tables)      

(...and yes, your eyes are not deceiving you in the link, with New Years Day on the horizon Bognor are indeed the form team in the league right now!).

Saturday fixtures (teams we can catch [theoretically, we can only go above one of 'em] in green, teams that can catch us in red)

Brightlingsea Regent v Corinthian-Casuals
Carshalton Athletic v Bognor Regis Town
Cheshunt v Bishop's Stortford
Cray Wanderers v Potters Bar Town
East Thurrock United v Haringey Borough
Enfield Town v Bowers & Pitsea
Folkestone Invicta v Horsham
Kingstonian v Merstham
Lewes v Leatherhead
Wingate & Finchley v Hornchurch
Worthing v Margate

Team wise there's nothing apparently new to report for injuries and suspensions (assuming of course that Lloyd's conkers have been relocated!). Several, but by no means all key players were rested in the win at The Withdean and with Danny and Jasper seemingly  very mobile in the warm-up they may be nearing fitness. The only complete absentee who might reasonably have been expected to be involved if fit was Shola. 

Margate may not be a highly placed club but with what's at stake in this fixture regarding league permutations and for the battle it will be against tough opponents it isn't unreasonable to hope for a big crowd to support the lads. We are going well, 'Gate usually bring a few, the weather looks to be dry (for a change!) and Brighton aren't playing so there's every chance. 

Come on you Rebels!     
           

[virgs1]

worthingfc.com/teams/

The team page has finally been updated which confirmed what a few of us heard on Monday at the Withdean. Shola has departed us.

[Keithsson]

Dec 5, 2019 15:48:25 GMT virgs1 said:

worthingfc.com/teams/

The team page has finally been updated which confirmed what a few of us heard on Monday at the Withdean. Shola has departed us.

Thanks for the update.

I can't say that's a massive blow for me. On paper he offered something we didn't have. But while he did score a couple of important goals from the bench you never felt he was going to dislodge any of the regular starters up front if they were fit. Then you also add in the emergence of Tom Chalaye as an option and Shola's place even on the bench looked shaky.

So thank you and good luck to the lad but probably best for both parties that he moves on.

[virgs1]

Correct. Injuries caught up with him I think. Also FYI Tom Chalaye is on duel with Pagham at the moment (on loan there)

[goonerebel]

Nothing on Twitter today, so keep an eye on the score via Football web pages.

Halftime:

Worthing 2-0 Margate

Kealy(15)
Parsons(45)
Margate also down to 10 men.

All of above as listed on Football web pages

[Keithsson]

The talking point of the game will be the second goal. Definite subtle handball from Marvin in the build up but the officials didn't see it.

Rightly p1ssed off the 'Gate players surrounded the ref and the skipper was booked.

What you don't do when you've just been booked for dissent... is keep showing dissent. 2nd yellow and off you pop son.

Irrespective of justifiable upset at the goal you have to be professional about things and he has no-one to blame but himself.

Their management were in the ear of the ref all the way across the pitch, expect some 'evening up' decisions second half.

Aside from that just one small spell of panicky passing at the back otherwise we've been really good. Worthy of a two goal advantage, albeit fortune smiled on us with #2.

Big second half now, come on lads.

[Keithsson]

Phew, far too much squeaky bum time but we win 2-1. We need to learn how to put teams to bed but a win is a win so well done all.

With Folkestone beating Horsham we move up to 2nd.

IPD Table - Link

[tarringrebel]

At half-time with Margate down to 10 men and us having played reasonably well and having made several goalscoring opportunities on top of the 2 goals we had scored, all seemed set for us to push on in the second half and achieve a comfortable win. Far from it however, and if Margate's number 10 , who led us a merry dance all second half, could shoot as well as he could dribble we'd probably have lost the match.

As it was we were all mighty relieved to hear the final whistle. We seemed curiously disjointed in the second half and were unable, despite the man advantage, to gain any kind of control of the game. At times we seemed to be playing 4 in a straight line up front in the second half after Lloyd and Ollie came on, to join Callum and Reece, meaning when many of our attacks floundered with a wasteful final ball it enabled them to counter-attack us with ease. Jesse too seemed wasted today in a strange auxiliary left-back type role which seemed odd as it kept him far from their goal more or less all game.

[wwrebel]

An unconvincing and scrappy win.
First half I thought we played quite well with a good shape to the side. Decent finish from Callum and a few other opportunities saved by their keeper.
Second goal shouldn't have stood as Marvin blatantly handled the ball in the build up before setting up Alex who finished well. Margate rightfully aggrieved and the red card should have led to a comfortable 2nd half.

Rather than kill the game off and score a third we seemed content to try and play out the game by just keeping possession. This gradually allowed Margate back into the game and out substitutions affected our shape. Cameron went off injured and instead of Ben replacing him Jesse was shifted to left back and Callum was asked to play deeper to accommodate Lloyd and Ollie coming on. We didn't really create much at all in the 2nd half and Margate scored a well worked goal to force a nervy finish to the game. Twice in the last few minutes a corner for us ended up setting up a counter attack for Margate with poor deliveries.
I can't understand why we don't leave a couple of players on the half way line when defending corners as that would lessen the amount of bodies in the 6 yard box to defend against, although to be fair we did defend corners far better than in recent weeks. Carl had a good game today and took control of balls into the box and either caught them or punched them away.

Still, we are up to 2nd with most of the results going our way today and a rare midweek off gives time for the squad to recuperate before the Xmas period.

[jules]

I have little sympathy for Margate over the 'handball' and resulting sending off. I have the memory of an elephant. Cast your mind back a couple of years or so when we played them at home. Arran Racine got a second yellow for an innocuous foul by someone else on the edge of the box and in a case of mistaken identity was sent off. Margate scored from the resulting free kick and won the game. I beleive they call it Karma.

[wwrebel]

m.youtube.com/watch?v=0idWvqQvZLU

Highlights.