Goldberg nabs useful point

Bradley Goldberg’s ninth goal of the season earned the U’s a useful Ryman Football League Premier Division point after they had fallen behind earlier in the second half.

Fourth-placed Margate were the better side in the early stages on a cold afternoon in east Kent and came close close to opening the scoring when Alex Rhodes fired against an upright.

Zac Attwood drilled a shot just wide for United, who would have been the happier of the two sides at the 0-0 half time scoreline.

After the second half started in torrential rain, a slip by Sean Ray let in Mark Corneille to fire past Matt Armstrong-Ford and give Margate a deserved lead.

Three good saves from Armstrong-Ford kept United only one goal behind and Goldberg curled a sweet free kick into the top corner to make it 1-1 in the 84th minute.

Goldberg went close to a second goal moments later but shot over and Armstrong-Ford saved United again right at the death with Margate swarming forward.

United: Armstrong-Ford, Cox, Richardson, Carey, Ray, Jirbandey, Ellis, Crellin, Goldberg, Attwood, Okojie. Subs: Camara, Whitehead, Dixon, Manning, Bachellier.

A full report will appear in Friday’s Hastings Observer.

Ryman Premier standings (played-points): 1 Hampton & Richmond 9-21, 2 Kingstonian 10-20, 3 Whitehawk 10-20, 4 Margate 11-17, 5 Lowestoft Town 8-16, 6 Wealdstone 9-16, 7 Canvey Island 11-16, 8 Bognor Regis Town 11-16, 9 Bury Town 8-5, 10 Cray Wanderers 9-13, 11 Harrow Borough 10-12, 12 East Thurrock United 8-11, 13 Met Police 8-10, 14 Lewes 10-10, 15 Wingate & Finchley 11-10, 16 Concord Rangers 9-9, 17 HASTINGS UNITED 8-8, 18 Enfield Town 9-8, 19 Leiston 9-7, 20 Hendon 8-7, 21 Carshalton Athletic 10-6, 22 Thurrock 8-5.

Other senior results:

Sussex County League, Division 1: Horsham YMCA 2 Rye United 0; Sidley United 2 Redhill 0.

Division 2: Bexhill United 5 Southwick 2.

Division 2 Challenge Cup, 2nd round: Loxwood 2 Westfield 0; Wick 1 Little Common 2.