Margate held to 3-3 Isthmian South East draw at Sevenoaks Town as top scorer Ibrahim Olutade sees goal disallowed; Fellow play-off occupants Merstham away next up

A disallowed goal proved key in Margate’s draw at Sevenoaks on Saturday.

It finished honours even as Ben Greenhalgh’s team played out a six-goal Isthmian South East game against the Oaks at Greatness Park.

Already leading Marcel Nimani’s men 3-2, Margate thought they had bagged a fourth when ex-Gate midfielder James Bessey-Saldanha inadvertently passed to top scorer Ibrahim Olutade, who netted - only for his goal to be controversially ruled out for offside.

Sevenoaks then found a leveller midway through the second period.

“For a neutral, it was an entertaining game,” reflected player-manager Ben Greenhalgh.

“It was frustrating in the manner we let our goals in where we’ve let three in from set-pieces.

“But we were missing Sam Blackman, who is coming back from injury and will be back this weekend, and Lewis Knight. He’s suspended.

“At 3-2 up, their player, Bessey - which almost makes it quite funny - has played it backwards and Ibzs (Olutade) put it in the net - but is flagged offside. I think the referee spoke to the linesman.

“I briefly spoke to the referee afterwards and he apologised, but I just don’t understand how they didn’t get the decision right! Their explanations were a bit up in the air.

“Hopefully, it doesn’t impact us too much.”

While Greenhalgh, whose team failed to close the gap on third-placed Isthmian South East side Burgess Hill, felt the wrong call had been made, he refused to be overly-critical of the referee as Charlie Roberts quickly owned up to his mistake following the full-time whistle.

Greenhalgh said: “It comes around in football. You do need bits of luck.

“To be fair to the referee, after the game, I think he understood his error. When they say they have got it wrong, I’ll hold my hands up