Wingate held to Margate stalemate
Ryman Premier League
Wingate & Finchley 0 Margate 0
Tuesday, 1 April, 2014
The Blues needed the point to slightly edge away from the chasing pack, and both sides went for the win but could not break through.
The first half was fast paced and even, though Margate stepped up the pressure around the half hour mark. Jefferson Louis flashed two shots off target and Matt Bodkin drilled an effort across goal as neither keeper was tested.
Moments into the second half Margate’s Jack Sammoutis volleyed a clearance towards his own goal, and with his keeper stranded was relieved to see the ball miss the right post by inches from his 30 yard strike.
Wingate’s first chance of their own doing after the break came from an Adam Bolle surge forward. He fed in Spencer McCall after a one-two, but he was charged down by a brave Nikki Bull. The keeper took a knock in the progress but was a less to continue.
Ola Sogbanmu fed in Bolle for the next chance on the hour mark, and under heavy pressure for the chasing defender he drilled a shot low straight at Bull from the edge of the box.
The game ebbed and flowed and Margate soon had their next spell on top. Anthony Riviere had a shot blocked the Bobby Smith and Margate also went close from a corner too.
The best chance of the game came in the closing stages. Josh Kennet played the ball in to re-signed Leon Fisher. He drive towards the near post but flashed his shot from close-range into the side netting.
Daniel Nielsen was happy after the match: “I am pleased with the reaction of the squad after a difficult week. They worked their socks off for 90 minutes and earned that point. On the balance of play a draw was probably a fair result although we had possibly the best two chances of the game. Margate are a very good side and I expect to see them challenging at the top of the league next season. The squad will need to carry that positive performance into Saturday’s game at Dulwich and work just as hard as they did tonight.”
Wingate & Finchley Line-up:
Smith, Aisien, Street, Tejan-Sie, Weatherstone, Locke, McCall, Sogbanmu, Keenleyside (Kennet 82), Bolle (Davies 70), Fisher. Subs; Sharpe, McGonigle, Hart.
Referee:
J Richardson
Attendance:
128
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