Margate Striker Fjord Rogers grabbed his first goal in a Blue shirt as the ‘Gate settled for a point after drawing 1-1 with Horsham at Hartsdown Park on Friday night.
With Bank Holiday traffic problems forcing this game to be brought forward to a Friday night, it was the Blues that started on the front foot as Rogers linked up well with Troy Howard who saw his effort rise over the bar.
In a frantic start to the game, Margate felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 8th minute as Rogers was flattened in the box, leaving the player down and dazed for several minutes, however the referee played on.
Rogers was impressing on his home debut as he continued to link well with Howard who again saw his cross collected.
The visitors took their time to get going, however they thought they had the lead in the 16th minute as they netted, only for the linesman to raise his flag and rule offside. Horsham were now in their stride and Jack Mazzone fired another warning the hosts way as his header rose over the bar.
The game started to settle down and become less frantic until the 37th minute as Sam Blackman wasted the Blues best chance of the game as he headed a pinpoint cross from Ben Greenhalgh wide of the post.
The visitors looked to improve in the second half with Mazzone again flashing an effort just wide of Amadou Tangara post, moments before Howard linked up well with Harrison Hatfull before seeing his shot trickle wide.
As the game ticked towards the hour mark, it was the Blues who took the lead as Howard raced down the wing before seeing his low cross fired home by Rogers to give the ‘Gate a 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Blues the lead was only to last for two minutes as the visitors levelled almost immediately as Lucas Rodrigues fired home from the edge of the box to make it 1-1.
Both sides remained cautious as neither wanted to lose the game, but it was the visitors who should have snatched victory in the 77th minute as Tom Richards crashed the ball off the post as Margate fans and players alike sighed a sigh of relief.
It was the visitors who continued to push Margate all the way with several corners in the last ten minutes, however the Blues defence stood tall and denied everything thrown at them to earn a deserved point.
MARGATE: Tangara, Hatfull, Fisher, Brodie, Knight, Hudson, Blackman, Rogers (Smith 67’), McCann (Deslandes 88’), Greenhalgh, Howard Barton 79’)
Subs not used: Ojemen, Bessey-Saldanha
Margate Goalscorer Fjord Rogers 60’
Margate Man of the Match Lewis Knight
Attendance 575