By Blue-tinted specs
Chichester City 0 Margate 1
With a brief involvement in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy, and currently in a lower mid-table league position, Margate’s best hopes of success this season appear to lie in the two minor cup competitions.
One is the Kent Senior Cup (a home tie with Sheppey takes place on November 15), the other is the competition we reached the final of last season – the Velocity Cup, the league cup competition of the Isthmian League.
One of the pleasures of following a non-league football team is visiting towns and cities that would otherwise not be encountered.
Our first tie in the Velocity Cup this season saw Margate make the trip to the charming West Sussex cathedral city of Chichester on Tuesday.
The main concern before kick-off was would the game go ahead? With considerable rainfall in recent days, and more on the day of the game itself, those travelling from Thanet inevitably feared a wasted journey.
On arriving at Chichester’s ground, however, the pitch looked in fine condition, given the circumstances, with not a puddle or muddy patch to be seen.
The home side are a division below Margate and Chichester’s starting XI had a number of changes from their previous league game, while the visitors fielded pretty much the strongest team available. Despite possessing the greater quality, this wasn’t an easy game for Margate and the first half was a scrappy midfield battle with virtually no chances at either end.
Half-time saw the introduction of sub Montrell Deslandes up front, replacing defender Ethan Kaiser. Deslandes’ pressing of the home defenders when they had possession helped Margate become more dominant as the game progressed.
It was Deslandes who provided the decisive moment on 76 minutes. Sam Blackman received the ball in the centre circle, ran forward and released a pass to send Deslandes racing clear of the home defence. He shot low to the keeper’s right into the corner of the net – 1-0!
Chichester lacked the nous to seriously threaten an equaliser. Margate saw out the rest of the tie without any scares and will be at home to Folkestone in the next round.