Margate 1 Telford 1

AN 85th minute goal from Telford substitute Kevin Jobling denied Margate three valuable points that they narrowly deserved and sent the majority of the 385 fans home disappointed.

The first half of Saturday’s Nationwide Conference game at Crabble was a gritty affair with both sides battling to gain the upper hand. Telford just shaded it on opportunities but they were denied by Margate’s in form keeper Charlie Mitten, who was equal to everything thrown at him.

The pick of his saves came when Telford’s on loan striker Steve Kerrigan finished off a fine passing move only to see his rasping shot from 12 yards out turned round the post by Mitten low down to his left.

Margate were without top goalscorer Leon Braithwaite, who is injured after a motorcycle accident and had Phil Collins up front with the new on loan signing from Queens Park Rangers, Leroy Griffiths.

The partnership quickly developed when Griffiths found his strike partner through on goal only to see him involved in a tangle of legs with the last defender as he looked to shoot. To everyone’s surprise referee Trevor Kettle from Maidenhead booked the bewildered Collins for diving while Telford defender Gary Hanmer was probably relieved not to see the red card.

As half-time approached Griffiths chased a lost cause into the corner from an over hit ball from Collins and his cross was met at the far post from John Keister who saw his header go just over the crossbar.

Margate started the second half brighter and within five minutes of the restart were awarded a penalty when Collins was bundled over in the box by Grant Brown.

Midfielder Keister stepped up and fired home sending keeper Paul Edwards the wrong way to give Margate the lead while Collins received treatment from the collision.

The goal seemed to give Margate the lift they required and they started to command the flow of play but the lack of a second goal denied them the win before their visit to Brisbane Road in the FA Cup to face Leyton Orient.

Manager Chris Kinnear sent on Terry McFlynn to inject some power up front but even the Ireland under 21 international was unable to unlock the Telford defence and with time running out the visitors snatched an equaliser.

Against the run of play Telford’s Hanmer broke into space on the left and from his cross Jobling slid in at the far post leaving Margate in 16th place in the table with 21 points from 18 games.