Bishop's Stortford 3 Margate 0

DEPLETED Margate endured another disappointing night on their travels on Tuesday night, slipping one place to 17th in the Nationwide Conference South table.

However, Chris Kinnear left Woodside Park knowing that had his side taken at least half the chances they created it might have been a different story.

With only 14 players available the side almost picked itself, and matters were made worse when former Gravesend midfielder Pat Gradley twisted a knee in the warm-up, leaving just two subsitutes on the bench.

Top scorer Che Stadhart was unavailable, John Keister serving a one match ban, his third enforced lay-off this season, and regular skipper Darren Annon missed the game, after being carried off at Hayes the weekend.

Peter Benevides headed wide early on with all the goal to aim at, and that set the tone for a depressing night in front of goal. Then a back-pass by Bill Edwards saw goalkeeper Peter Trego's clearance fall to Stortford striker Steve Morison and he put the home side ahead after 18 minutes.

Darren Watson should have made it 1-1 with only the 'keeper to beat but put his shot wide after being set-up by Adrian Clarke. The big striker missed two other good chances before half time and Rocky Baptiste added to the list of misses, heading over the bar.

Margate somehow survived a frantic goalmouth scramble, only to conceded a second in first half stoppage time. Dave Rainford's pass found Alex Martin outside the box, and his effort swerved past Trego.

Wide-men Richard Howell and Martin gave Margate a torrid time down both flanks, particularly in the first half.

Moses Jjunju replaced Oates in the second half and caused Stortford plenty of problems, waltzing past ex-Charlton defender Anthony Allman at will, but Margate's poor finishing again let them down.

They played with three strikers following Jjunju's introduction, and left gaps at the back, which Stortford exploited by scoring a third three minutes from time. Howell's right wing cross found substitute Tim Langer, who despite looking offside, cut in past Benevides and beat Trego.

Kinnear spoke to KM-fm Sports Editor Simon Watts after the match...