Clarke leaves it late to earn the Mackerels a share of the spoils

A BATTLE at Hartsdown Park between ten-man Margate and Worthing resulted in honours even.

The hosts started the game strongly with striker Frannie Collin producing a lovely freekick that whistled just wide of the upright.

Jordan Chiedozie came close to following up that effort but his strike shortly afterwards was bravely blocked.

Returning from suspension Chiedozie looked dangerous, again steaming through the Worthing defence but he couldn’t quite get his footing to get a clinical chance away.

Margate thought they had taken the lead with Tom Mills finding the head of Collin who laid it off into the path of Chiedozie. The Blues’ leading scorer made no mistake with the finish only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.

Margate were reduced to ten men after a strong tackle

between Margate’s left-back Mills and Joel Colbran led to the former being dismissed from the field of play.

Worthing turned up the heat in the second half, utilising their extra player to enjoy plenty of possession in the Margate half.

But Steve Watt’s side showed their grit and organisation, denying their opponents the chance to go ahead.

In fact, it was Gate themselves who took the lead after some great work from Dave Martin down the left hand side presented Chiedozie with the opportunity to slot home within the six-yard box.

Worthing searched for an equaliser as they continued to enjoy passages of play in the Margate half.

It was a set piece which proved the only way to break down a solid defensive line, Joseph Clarke rising highest to put the ball past the outstretched palm of Patrick Lee as both teams had to settle for a point.