Burgess Hill Town’s League Cup run comes to an end at Margate

Margate's Charlie Wassmer up for a set piece. Picture by Don Walker

The Blues bounced back from a defeat to Dulwich Hamlet last time out, as Antony Riviere’s first goal of the season and Jamie Taylor’s curled effort comfortably saw them into the last eight of the Robert Dyas League Cup.

An even first twenty minutes saw chances fall to both side but neither could test the keeper Taylor and Dan Perry narrowly missing the target for their respective sides.

Margate turned on the style midway through the half with Riviere grabbing the opener from a sharp passing move. As the ball moved quickly through ‘Gate’s midfield it eventually ended up at the feet of Riviere who calmly slipped the ball past Mark Zawadski, to seal a great team goal.

Luke Moore and Taylor both shot wide from long range as Margate, with Margate debutant Matthew Armstrong-Ford holding Lee Harding’s shot when called upon.

On the stroke of half-time Moore saw Zawadski save well at his near post, when the Blues midfielder volleyed on the stretch from an acute angle.

Burgess Hill started the second half much the brighter and Perry had the ball in Margate’s net soon after the break, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. Perry then gained a yard on Margate’s defence, splitting the centre-backs, only to find Armstrong-Ford’s palms with a fierce effort.

Taylor sealed the game on 69 minutes with a composed finish, his sixth goal in Margate colours. Again coming from a slick passing move, Riviere found the diminutive striker on the left side of the box, who cut in and curled into the far corner.

Mark Zawadski had to be at his best to stop Margate from increasing their lead, but did well to save from Jamie Taylor’s flicked header, Zac Attwood’s low drive and substitute Lewis Taylor’s sharp rising effort.

Margate will now welcome Kingstonian to Hartsdown Park in the Quarter Finals of the Robert Dyas League Cup, with a date still to be finalised.

Margate: Armstrong-Ford, Cash (L Taylor 66), Bennett (Rents 79), Eyong, Johnson, Wassmer, Riviere (Stuart 74), Wills, J Taylor, Attwood, Moore. Subs not used: Moss, Phipp.

Burgess Hill Town: Zawadski, Slaughter (Hatts 75), Pointing, Budd, Miles, Fisk, Martin, Keehan (P Harding 63), Perry, 10 L Harding (Doherty 83), Saunders. Sub not used: O’Toole.