City bounced back from their recent disappointing run of results to secure a win over struggling Margate that almost certainly ensures that they will be taking part in this years play-offs.

With five first team players already unavailable through either injury or suspension, City’s already threadbare squad was dealt another blow before the game when full-back Lee Summerscales failed a fitness test. His exclusion left manager Gary Roberts with only two outfield players on the bench and few options at the back with only three fit defenders in the squad. The problem saw City line up in an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation.

City should have taken the lead after only five minutes. Barry Smith, who is still clearly lacking match fitness, showed what we can expect from him by picking out a pass to Rob Miller on the edge of the Margate area, a quick turn by the City midfielder and he was through bearing down on goal. Home keeper, Nejdet Hussein, raced off his line to block Miller’s rising effort, the rebound fell invitingly for Matt Robinson but he blazed over the bar.

Home keeper, Nejdet Hussein collects a cross with Matt Langston looking on

As the game progressed, City were kept on their toes by the home side’s direct approach, hitting forward Rocky Baptiste with numerous long balls. On one such occasion, the former Stevenage Borough striker got the better of Glen Fuff, looking up, he spotted Peter Benevides charging into the City area and delivered a peach of a pass that the midfielder did not even have to break stride for, unfortunately he failed to make the most of the chance and with Duncan Roberts exposed in the City goal he thrashed his effort wide of the near post.

Benevides had a chance to make amends soon after when John Keister picked out his run into the area with a nicely flighted ball. However he appeared to be caught in two minds whether to shoot, or cross for Che Stadhart lurking at the far post and in the end lifted a tame shot well over the bar.

City had a valid claim for a penalty waved away in the 25th minute when Dave Sadler nipped between defenders Bill Edwards and Aaron Barnett as Robinson’s dink bounced in the area. The latter appeared to pull the City striker back but the referee and his assistant, who were both close to the incident, saw nothing wrong.

As half-time grew near City finally broke the deadlock and ended a two game goal drought in the process. Margate were caught out when Michael Gash spotted Miller breaking through the midfield unmarked and set him free with a quickly taken throw-in. Edwards attempted tackle failed to get enough of the ball and Miller took full advantage, shrugging off the attentions of Pat Gradley before beating Nejdet with a crisp low shot.

City came close to extending their lead a minute later. Richard Scott’s left wing corner was met by a spectacular but ineffective punch from the home keeper, the ball only going as far as Smith who instantly fired a shot into the crowded area where Sadler diverted it goalwards only to see his effort blocked on the line. Margate desperately battled to clear and the loose ball fell to Miller who’s shot flew wide.

Michael Gash celebrates with goalscorer Steve Shipley

After taking the lead, City’s tails were up and they enjoyed probably their best spell of the half but Margate should really have levelled the scores a minute before the break. Benevides, who had been a cause for concern for City all half, produced a fine cross that found the head of Stadhart only six yards out but he failed to even register a strike on target as his effort went back across goal and past the upright.

City were quickly on their game after the interval, forcing a corner kick within sixty seconds of the restart. Scott’s flighted ball was only cleared as far as Miller who hit a screamer that may well have found the back of the net had it not struck the unfortunate Robinson who was left winded and in a heap on the ground.

Baptiste failed to make the most of a promising opportunity when he failed to control the ball when it fell to him following a Alex Charalambous pass. Standing on the six yard line, the ball tricked between the strikers feet and Roberts was able to drop on it before the situation developed. Moments later, Gash had a shot fielded by Nejdet and then Baptiste again showed his wasteful side when he was allowed a huge amount of space to run into on the edge of City’s area, with no defender able to get in a challenge and the whole goal to aim at he hit a rising shot that was never going to trouble Roberts.

Soon after, City had Craig Pope to thank when he intervened to deny Stadhart. Baptiste chased down a lost cause, retrieving the ball when it looked to have been rolling out of play. Getting his head up quickly he found Stadhart at the near-post but Pope was quickly in to produce a block that took all the pace off the ball and allowed Roberts to collect comfortably.

Just after the hour, Smith should have done far better when a good City move provided him with time and space for a shot but he tried to pick his spot with a sidefoot effort that only provided Nejdet with a comfortable save. It was to be his last contribution as the tiring midfielder was replaced by youngster Steve Shipley, soon after.

City forced a number of corners as the half progressed. From one, they had another claim for a penalty turned down when Robinson was caught by Keister as he burst into the area. The wide-man stayed on his feet and crossed low into the crowded six yard area where Shipley saw his shot blocked as Margate struggled to clear their lines.

Matt Robinson gets to grips with a Margate opponent

The home side where lucky to escape conceding when Nedjet came rushing off his line to clear Sadler’s flick-on. The keeper misjudged the ball and only succeeded in slicing it straight to Gash, but he was crowded out by Edwards and Barnett and never got a clear sight of goal.

City didn’t have to worry that that one had got away, as two minutes later their lead was doubled. Gash produced a nice bit of control in the centre circle and found Miller who in turn swung a pass out to Sadler on the right hand side. The Margate defence backed off allowing the frontman to make good progress before firing in a low cross-shot that was turned in by Shipley, arriving just ahead of Barnett at the far post.

Margate responded by forcing their first corner of the match and very nearly reduced the arrears. As the flag kick was delivered, Roberts seemed to misjudge its flight and was caught in no mans land as Ross Smith met it with a thumping header. It looked to be flying into an empty net but amazingly Pope appeared from nowhere to produce a most spectacular goal-line clearance to preserve City’s two goal cushion.

More corners followed and Roberts had to be alert to block Stadhart’s close range effort as the home side upped the tempo. Stadhart was again to the fore soon after when his glancing header had Roberts scrambling along his line but the chance that followed underlined a miserable day for the former Gravesend striker. With five minutes left, Charalambous’ hopeful ball over the top caught City out and Stadhart was quick to latch onto it, but with the visiting defence trailing in his wake he made a complete mess of things, lifting the ball high over the bar from 18 yards.

Margate Continued to press for the remaining minutes but City kept them out with few alarms to record a vital three points in their quest to finish second behind the divisions newly crowned champions, Grays Athletic.