Margate match report
Kingstonian showed a bit more fight and a bit more organisation than in the previous week’s debacle at Lewes, which at least gave the fans some cause for optimism, but still lost 1-0 to slump to a seventh consecutive defeat and 13 league games without a win.
Ks did start the game quite well, with Aaron Lamont forcing Kleton Perntreou to save a free kick in only the third minute, and a succession of corners after some good spells of possession in the Margate half.
But no more clear-cut chances came from it and after escaping a penalty shout when Tobi Sho-Silva went down in the box after a Margate corner, soon enough Ks were behind. Marshall Wratten got in behind the Ks defence down the left-hand channel and Rob Tolfey could only parry his cross-shot for a grateful Noel Leighton to tap home.
Leighton again came close five minutes’ later but to their credit, Ks didn’t fold and remained competitive in the game. Perntreou again did well to save a Lamont effort from distance.
Ks continued to lack a cutting edge after the break but having kept the game alive, eventually created two good chances midway through the second half. First Mike Dixon, who worked tirelessly all game on his debut, crossed for Gokhan Can, but a flying interception blocked his powerful effort.
And three minutes later Can turned provider for Dixon, only for Perntreou to save his angled effort. Can tried to follow up but could only reach the ball with his hand.
In the end the Ks challenge petered out and Margate saw the game out with ease; Jordan Robins nearly made it two late on after being set up by Sho-Silva.
It’s a sad indictment of how bad Ks’ form has got that even a 1-0 defeat feels like progress. This did, but with the news that Potters Bar have brought their ground up to standard and three teams will go down after all, Ks still need a win from somewhere to be sure they can rebuild in the Ryman Premier next season.
Margate: Kleton Perntreou, Connor Dymond, Tom Mills, James Rogers, Liam Friend, Ben Swift, Jack Paxman, Jordan Robins, Noel Leighton, Tobi Sho-Silva, Marshall Wratten.
Subs: Owen Kallameier, Jordan Ababio (for Jack Paxman, 90m), Ben Fitchett, Felix Mesquita (for Marshall Wratten, 85m), Tom Webster.
Kingstonian: Rob Tolfrey, Jonathan Muleba, James O'Halloran, Ismail Yakubu, James Richmond, Dean Inman, Aaron Lamont, Alfie Egan, Mike Dixon, Gokhan Can, Delano Sam-Yorke.
Subs: Shaun McAuley, Owen Coleman (for James O'Halloran, 81m), Chace Jacquart (for James Richmond, 81m), Nathan Minhas, Josh Kyte.
Goal scorer: Noel Leighton (19m, 1-0)
Attendance: 519
