The u16’s started their season with a nail biting 5-4 victory against a strong Margate side in a game which could have gone either way. Margate started the game strongly and quickly opened up a 2-0 lead inside fifteen minutes with goals that Athletic will have been disappointed to concede. However the young White’s responded magnificently grabbing a goal back through debutant Taylor Sinnock after some fine work from George Nikaj. Surrounded by Margate defenders, Nikaj managed to jinx past one before sliding a perfectly weighted ball through to Sinnock who muscled his way through before slotting past the keeper. A second followed soon after from Athletic when a good move down the right lead to a throw in. Skipper Owen Armstrong launched the ball into the box where Nikaj controlled excellently with his back to goal and in one motion finished with a super bicycle kick beating the keeper. Ten minutes later and just as it looked as though the sides were going into half time level The Whites put together a good move down the left which ended with a ball into the box from Terry Mills. Nikaj managed to beat the Margate defenders to the ball and finish calmly into the bottom corner taking his side into the break leading 3-2.
Margate again started the second half the stronger of the two teams as they sought to break down The Whites stubborn defence marshalled by Armstrong and Arthur Clarke. A superb strike out of nothing gave Margate the goal they were looking for to equalise as they looked to push on and assert themselves in the game. Athletic struggled to cope with the midfield of Margate who began to control the game, and they deservedly took the lead soon after equalising. This seemed to spur Athletic on to go on the hunt for more goals as the game took yet another turn! Mills athletically broke forward from left back beating two before putting a measured cross into the box. The Margate keeper did well to divert the ball away from his goal as it sailed high in the air towards the back post but unfortunately for him Nikaj was on hand to complete his hat trick and fumbled the ball home from two yards. With ten minutes of play left and scores level at 4-4 both sides were clearly looking for the win. The introduction of Kosh Rai caused all sorts of problems for the Margate defenders with his pace and harrying, and it was this that created the winning goal. Rai won the ball back and sensibly rolled it to Armstrong who played a clever ball over the top for Nikaj to give chance. Nikaj beat the on rushing keeper to the ball who then collided with the Athletic striker, sending him to the ground. After deliberation the Referee pointed to the spot giving Athletic the chance to take all three points as Nikaj stepped up himself to take the penalty. Nikaj smashed the ball into the bottom right corner of the net to the delight of his teammates as Athletic took the lead for the second time in the match. The young Whites managed to see out the remaining minutes of the game to hold on for the win.
