Hi Ladies / Gents
Please find below the match report for the 60s league game played at Aylesham against Margate.
This was the revised game played at Aylesham, despite it being Margate's home match, due to them having played ineligible players when the game was initially played at the start of the season.
We knew that Margate were a very physical side and that they had a history of suffering from indiscipline for non walking offences. Our pre match chat was focussed around not getting embroiled into their sort of game but to stick to our shape and make the pitch as big as possible with a view of pulling them all over the field.
The game started with Margate coming straight at us from the off. They needed the points to secure safety in the top half of the league ahead of the split and they wanted a fast start. We absorbed this pressure well and kept them at arms length. We didn't really settle but we held our discipline and were awarded several early free kicks for contact and non walking offences but the majority were in the centre third of the pitch and not anything that offered us a chance on goal.
As the game started to settle into a rhythm and we started to get some concerted possession, Margate scored. They broke down our left and a ball was played square across our area and despatched by their arriving midfielder.
Our heads never dropped however, and within a couple of minutes we were level. We moved the ball up from defence and some good interplay between our midfield saw the ball played up from Colin to Mike who laid the ball off for Steve E to hit a low strike passed their keeper.
The next 10 minutes saw both teams playing counter-attacking football. Our defence was dealing well with Margate who tended to try and attack with numbers and overload us but were often guilty of indiscipline giving us cheap possession. Den was marshalling the defence well and Colin was doing well in midfield moving the ball wide as we tried to maintain our shape. We were creating chances and had several shots where we managed to get around their defence. This was clearly annoying Margate and they started to argue amongst themselves and question all of the refereeing decisions.
As it looked like we would go in all square, Margate got a lucky break in the midfield and a ball ricocheted off of a player in midfield and broke to their striker who sent a low shot into the corner giving Jan no chance.
In the remaining minutes both teams had half chances but were limited to shots from range and when the whistle blew for the break we were one down.
There was little to say at half time other than keep doing what we had been. We were right in this game and deserved to at least be level. Their indiscipline was our friend and they were already on 3 non walking offences so we just need to continue to play as we had been.
Margate again started the half fast and wanted to get a third goal to give them a cushion. Within 5 minutes they got their reward. We were defending almost constantly with them winning a string of corners and attacking throw ins. We struggled to maintain possession and even when we did get the ball out, we were to deep to be able to support Mike up front. The Margate third goal came from a hard low shot that went through a group of players and passed Jan.
We made a substitution and changed the formation slightly. Andy came on for Rupert and went up front with Mike dropping to midfield to give us a bit more stability and Colin moving out to the right.
Almost immediately from the restart we were given a lifeline. Their indiscipline finally caught up with them and they were guilty of a fourth non walking offence. The resulting penalty was clinically despatched by Mike and we were back to within a goal.
We were now certainly the stronger side and were getting plenty of possession down both flanks. Margate were again arguing with themselves and anyone that was close by.
We worked the ball down our left and interplay between Steve E and Mike saw a ball played through inside their defender and had Andy heading through on goal. A combination of running and then tackling from behind saw Andy ending up flat on the floor having been taken out by the recovering defender. A similar situation in the first half had resulted in a free kick but the referee saw this one differently and awarded the penalty for denying of a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) and the defender was also given a Blue Card.
The outcome of Mike's penalty was the same and we were level.
Margate now were all over the place. They tried to make substitutions but that caused more arguments amongst themselves and being more indiscipline. They were soon back up to 3 non walking offences and we were just finding more and more space going forward, which further frustrated them. We came close to getting a winner with Andy, Colin and Mike all having shots go just wide. We made a final substitution to cover the fresh legs they had put on and sat tight.
We kept Margate at arms length for the remaining minutes and at the final whistle we remained all square. The game finished Canterbury 3 - 3 Margate but on the second half performance we were definitely the better side and possibly deserved to take all 3 points.
This was, again, a big step forward in performance for us and we have seen steady and continuous improvement this season. We have taken 5 points from the last 4 games and, with a little more luck could have easily taken a lot more.
Congratulations to every one of the 9 that played today in doing exactly what they were asked to do and gave their all to achieve it. To a man, they delivered today and left nothing in the tank for beyond the final whistle.
My thanks to Paul C who was an unused substitute but was ready throughout just in case.
Additionally, my special thanks to the supporters that braved a bitterly cold day to turn up and watch a fantastic team effort.
Unable to separate them for their individual performances, the Players of the Match were Den for his control at the back and Colin for his efforts in the midfield.
Paul
