Broadbridge Heath 2-3 Margate

Despite some excellent results on their travels, Broadbridge Heath had not won a home game since the 22nd November so the visit of Margate gave 'The Bears' an opportunity to put an end to that poor run of home results.

Heath got off to a great start and deservedly took the lead on 13 minutes when leading scorer Zac Young struck a fierce left foot shot from 20 yards that flew into the top right corner of the net but minutes later the Heath talisman departed the field of play with a pulled hamstring.

The Gate gradually grew into the game and on 32 minutes Emman Oke fired a right foot effort narrowly over the Heath crossbar and minutes later the same player was denied by Heath goalkeeper Stan Williamson. The visitors equalised 2 minutes before the break when a corner from the left was played low across the face of goal, through a crowd of players before being turned in at the far post by the outstretched right leg of Lewis Knight for a tap-in.

Broadbridge Heath hit back straight away when a free kick was awarded wide right of the penalty area; Yuvi Mann played the ball towards the far post where it was headed home by Sal Marino to make it 2-1 at the break.

The Bears started the second half well with Charlie Pitcher having his right foot effort saved by Margate goalkeeper Dino Kaiser and minutes later The Gate should have been reduced to 10 players on 60 minutes when Oke mistimed a challenge on Lewis Hyde which was late, high and reckless but surprisingly the match referee deemed it only worthy of a yellow card but it meant another forced substitute for the home-side as Hyde needed a hospital visit!

Minutes later and the visitor’s were level Kai Garande received the ball wide left on the edge of the penalty area and played the ball into the danger area where it was headed home by Ibrahim Olutade placing his shot wide of Williamson.

Heath players were showing signs of frustration as several decisions appeared to be going against them and on 80 minutes it was all too much for Heath midfield player Louis Evans when he felt he should have been awarded a free-kick but instead one was awarded the other way and he let his feelings be known to the referee who produced a second yellow card quickly followed by a red and Heath were down to 10 players.

It was now more a case of could the 10-men of Broadbridge Heath hold out for a point but on 89 minutes Heath skipper Byron Napper was wide on the right shielding the ball from a Margate player who appeared to barge into his back, the Heath skipper fell forward onto the ball handling it as he fell but was shocked to learn that a free-kick had not been awarded to his team but to Margate for the handball?

Ben Greenhaigh took the resulting free-kick playing it towards the far post where it was headed home by Sam Blackman to win the game for The Gate.

So another home defeat for The Bears who will also now be without Young, Hyde and Evans for their next home match against AFC Whyteleafe at The BodyMould Community Stadium on Tuesday 10th Match, Kick off at 7.45.

MOM: Stan Williamson sponsored by Auto Sussex

Simmo said afterwards: The lads were excellent in spells today but once again small lapses of concentration in defending cost us and losing Youngy was a big loss. I never like having to talk about the officials after the game but once again this season poor decisions have affected the result of the game, it was probably the easiest Red Card of the season which should leave them 2-1 down and playing with 10 men. Once again apologies by the FA for a poor performance but that doesn’t help us.

Team: Williamson, Staight, Marino (Wooster 70), Napper, Hyde (Richardson 60), Peters, Mann (Connell 85), Romain, Young (Pitcher 22), Evans, Doughty (Bejashvili 75).