Stevenage 1 Margate 3

MARGATE put their FA Cup disappointment behind them by collecting three valuable Nationwide Conference points at Broadhall Way on Saturday.

The Gate, led on the day by acting skipper Charlie Mitten, were well worth the win which moved them up two places to 17th in the table.

Keeper Mitten took the captain’s armband after Graham Porter failed to recover from the knock he received against Cardiff, with Simon Beard, back after injury, slotting in at the back alongside Sam Sodje and Bill Edwards.

With Paul Lamb suspended Adrian Clarke was given his first start, against his former teammates and he clearly relished the opportunity, putting in an excellent display, which Gate secretary Ken Tomlinson felt just made him man of the match.

Mr Tomlinson said: “It was a good win and thoroughly deserved. Stevenage had a lot of possession but they did not really create much.

“Their man danger came from long throws into the box but we dealt with them pretty well and it was fairly comfortable in the end.”

Simon Wormull produced an early bright spot for the the home side when he forced a good save from Mitten but on 26 minutes Margate went ahead from what was virtually their first serious attack.

The Gate were repeatedly caught out by the Stevenage offside trap before the break, but not so on this occasion as Phil Collins ran onto a through ball from Jay Saunders and drew keeper Mark Westhead before tucking the ball inside the post.

Just before the half time whistle the visitorsgained welcome breathing space with a second goal following a cross from Clarke that was pulled down by John Keister.

The Sierra Leone international then threaded a pass through to Terry McFlynn, who got to the ball just ahead of the keeper to turn it home.

With the Gate defence in commanding form, Stevenage rarely threatened to get back into the contest although defender Jamie Campbell did go close with aheader just before the hour.

Charlie Macdonald, who had brief spell on loan with the Gate, forced Mitten to save well soon after and the visiting keeper then denied Jean Michel Sigere, by turning his effort over the bar.

Margate, meanwhile were happy to attack on the break and they wrapped the game up with a third goal on 80 minutes.

Once again Keister was involved this time playing the ball through to Oates, who capped a fine individual display by running on to fire past Westhead.

Stevenage’s consolation came five minutes with substitute Sigere, a one time transfer target for Margate, heading home from a Justin Richards cross.