Garry Haylock’s side stayed inches above the drop zone after losing out to big spending Margate at York Road on a blustery Saturday afternoon.

Garry introduced three new faces to the side with Jordaan Brown and Charlie Kennedy making the starting XI with striker Justin Nwogu taking a place on the bench.

United in fact started quite well, taking the game to the visitors and could have been ahead on just six minutes when an interchange between Elliot Benyon and Max Worsfold saw the ball cut back to United’s top scorer but he uncharacteristically fired wide of the target from 12 yards. Prior to this Ashley Lodge had seen a snapshot from the edge of the box easily held by Margate ‘keeper Chris Lewington.

The visitors then started to push towards the United goal, a neat exchange between Matthew Johnson and Danny Green saw the latter’s shot blocked by Devante McKain, the loose ball falling to Nathan Green who saw his effort deflect wide off his own striker Freddie Ladapo.

Three minutes later the ‘Gate did take the lead. Using the strong crosswind, David Hunt’s long throw saw former United graduate Charlie Wassmer rise highest to glance a header that beat Charlie Burns dive and nestled in the far corner.

Buoyed by this, the visitors continued to push for another. Good approach play from Nathan Green and Luke Moore set up a chance for Danny Green, his volley just clearing Burns’ goal.

Jake Goodman then lofted an overhead kick that just cleared the bar before the visitors scored a somewhat fortunate second, albeit with a sublime finish. The ball was played in to the United box, Jim Fenlon did well to block the initial shot but the ball ricocheted straight to Moore and without a second glance he smashed a low drive across Burns and in off the far post.

This was to be the last real action of the first period while the second also took some time to find anything approaching a decent effort on goal for either side.

The first came from Ladapo who saw a 20 yard dipping shot just go wide of the target for the visitors and before we saw the next opening we were in the final 15 minutes as Lewis Taylor slid in to meet a low driven centre from Nathan Green only to fire wide.

Former Margate man Luke Williams tested Lewington from distance shortly afterwards having won possession himself 30 yards from goal and then with just six minutes left United looked to have reduced the arrears. Substitute Justin Nwogu found skipper Adam Everitt and from 25 yards his powerful drive looked to be destined for the top corner only to be denied by a superb flying tip over by Lewington.

As the game drew to its inevitable conclusion, Nathan Green fried across the face of goal and wide for the visitors and in stoppage time United again went close when Nwogu moved past Hunt and despite being fouled still managed to pick out Williams at the near post but he fired wide.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Max Worsfold.

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