Stadium: Hartsdown Park (Capacity: 2,100)
Table Position: 9th
Top Scorer: Philip Roberts (2)
Manager: Reece Prestedge
Nickname: The Gate
2023/24 average attendance: 358
This Saturday, Concord Rangers' hunt for their first win of the 2023/24 season continues with the Beach Boys welcoming Margate to the Aspect Arena.
In midweek Rangers faced a disappointing first home game of the campaign with the ten men blown away 4-1 by recently promoted Hashtag United; three days after a 3-0 opening day defeat at Enfield Town.
However there was some good news with young striker Harrison Day bagging his first ever league goal and second senior goal in Concord colours - the teenager also found himself on target for the Beach Boys in an FA Trophy defeat to Harrow Borough last term.
Margate were also beaten by the same score line on Tuesday night with the Kent-based club being seen off 4-1 by Hornchurch.
Since this defeat there have been some departures from the Aspect Arena with both Zack Littlejohn and goalkeeper Lamar Johnson moving on.
Margate's season thus far has been fixed with Reece Prestedge's side winning one and losing one. On opening day a Philip Roberts brace secured the Gate a 2-1 win over step three new boys Whitehawk but they couldn't follow that up with another result in midweek.
The head-to-head record between the Beach Boys and the Gate lies firmly in the formers favour. Concord have won six of the eight meetings between the clubs, although the last meeting was won by Margate in 2019.
A fast start at Hartsdown Park that day saw three goals scored in the opening eight minutes before a Jack Richards strike a minute from time secured Margate a 3-1 comeback win.
Concord have never lost on home turf against Margate, a record they'll be looking to continue on Saturday.
Key Player
Philip Roberts
Given his first start to the new season, which has seen him bag two goals in as many matches, Philip Roberts is likely to be a real threat for the visitors.
The London born forward came through the youth ranks at Arsenal and following three years with the Gunners went on to spend time in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
In 2017 Roberts would return to England, playing just up the road from Concord with Chelmsford City.
The 29-year-old would go on to represent other Essex clubs such as Braintree Town, Romford, Brentwood Town and Tilbury.
In January 2023 Roberts joined Margate and scored two goals in the second half of the 2022/23 season.
Roberts is also able to boast international experience on his CV having played for Ireland at both U17 and U19 level making a combined seven appearances for The Boys in Green - scoring four goals.
They've played for both
Four current members of the Margate squad previously played for Concord earlier in their career.
Tyrone Sterling joined Margate this summer from Dover Athletic; with whom he made 37 appearances for in the National League South last term. Prior to his time at Crabble, the Grenada international enjoyed two spells with Concord. During his second stint at the club, Sterling captained the Beach Boys in their 2020 FA Trophy final clash with Harrogate Town at Wembley.
Another Margate man who appeared for Concord on that day was Sam Blackman. The Gate's skipper has had two spells with both Margate and Concord. Since returning to Hartsdown Park from Rangers in 2021 Blackman has gone onto score 11 goals from midfield and this summer was announced as the club's captain.
Blackman's midfield partner Ben Greenhalgh has also seen playing time with the Beach Boys. The 31-year-old will know the Aspect Arena well having enjoyed three spells with Concord with the first coming way back in 2013. Greenhalgh last donned the yellow and blue of Concord in 2018 and he moved to Margate from Tonbridge Angels in 2021.
Finally, there is striker Steve Cawley who, like Sterling, joined Margate this summer. Cawley spent five years with Concord from 2013 up until 2018. During that time he made over 150 appearances for the club and scored 15+ goals in four of his five seasons with the club. Cawley arrived at Hartsdown Park in July having spent two years with Hitchin Town.
We've met before
21/09/2019: Margate 3-1 Concord Rangers
22/09/2018: Concord Rangers 2-0 Margate
04/03/2017: Concord Rangers 0-0 Margate
22/10/2016: Margate 1-5 Concord Rangers
28/03/2016: Margate 0-1 Concord Rangers
On this day
In recent years the 19th of August has proved to be a successful date in the calendar for Concord Rangers with the Beach Boys unbeaten on their two games on this date.
Back in 2013 Rangers drew 2-2 away to local rivals Chelmsford City. The visitors had taken the lead after 11 minutes through Jason Hallett but couldn't hold onto their lead and two goals in two minutes from Chelmsford turned the game around. A Jeff Goulding penalty followed up shortly afterwards by a Sam Long strike meant that it looked as though the Clarets would head into the break in front. However four minutes before the interval Concord levelled the scores once more thanks to John Easterford and the game finished 2-2.
More recently in 2017 it was a much happier 19th of August for the Concord faithful with the Beach Boys beating Whitehawk 1-0. On that day Jordan Cox struck on the stroke of halftime to give Rangers a narrow victory that continued their unbeaten home start to the 2017/18 season.
How they line up
Margate's squad in full:
Goalkeepers
Reece Hobbs
Freddie Marsh
Defenders
Harrison Hatfull
Harry Hudson
Archie Johnson
Skye Salmon
Tyrone Sterling
Midfielders
Montel Agyemang
Sam Blackman
Mo Cham
Daniel Duncanson
Ben Greenhalgh
Leo Mazzone
Rory Sutcliffe
Attackers
Steve Cawley
Roberto Ratti
Philip Roberts
Fyn Rutherford
Harvey Smith
By Nathan Williams
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