Margate 2 Leigh RMI 0

MARGATE reached the last 16 of the FA Umbro Trophy and are only three games away from a final at Villa Park in May.

Irish under-21 squad member Terry McFlynn gave the Gate the lead on 10 minutes after a poor clearance from Leigh keeper Mark Westhead had been picked up by Leon Braithwaite.

Leigh struggled to work the ball out of their own half and Margate increased their lead on 25 minutes when, after a succession of corners that full-back Paul Lamb kept clipping in under the crossbar, Westhead completely misjudged the flight of the ball and allowed Braithwaite to nod down for Iain O'Connell to stab home from five yards.

The win rounded off a good week for Gate's manager Chris Kinnear, who completed the signing of McFlynn, after his loan period, from Woking. The youngster, who has been called up for the Ireland Under-21 to face Germany next week, has signed a three year contract that will see him at Hartsdown until the end of season 2004.

On a disappointing note there were only 663 fans to see the performance, the lowest gate at Margate this season.