Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Canvey Island 14th with 54 points, Margate 19th with 39, 15 apart. The last five rounds placed Margate 9th in the league for form — higher than their 19th in the standings. Scoring rates set the scale: Margate 1.19 scored and 1.9 conceded per game, Canvey Island 1.48 and 1.76, with the league averaging 1.59.
Five consecutive defeats weighed on Margate. Over the last five, Margate had taken 0 of 15 points to Canvey Island's 9.
Hartsdown Park in Margate staged the fixture, a ground that holds 3,000. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Margate led 3-1 at the break, before 1 more goal closed it at 3-2.