Two-goal lead surrendered (18.09.04)

A DISASTROUS second-half performance saw the Magpies snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at York Road on Saturday.
United had a great start, going two goals ahead with less than 20 minutes on the clock.
On 16 minutes, following good work by Craig O'Connor, Jamie Cook scored his first goal for United with a stunning volley from 20 yards, which looped over the keeper before dipping under the cross bar.
Two minutes later it was Barrie Matthews’ turn to open his account when he met a hopeful cross into the box with a clinical finish.
Margate, fielding an attack of considerable pedigree, did not take long to get back into the game.
On 22 minutes Matthews turned from goal-poacher into gamekeeper when he cleared a header off the United goal-line.
But moments later ex-Luton striker Rocky Baptiste picked up the loose ball and shot home from the edge of the box.
Referee Chris Miller was at the centre of the other two major incidents of the first half.
Firstly, on 28 minutes, Steve Hale broke the Margate defence only to be fouled by Dean Beckwith, who was very lucky to receive only a booking for his sin.
With half-time looming, Margate keeper Peter Trego, a former County cricket wicketkeeper, was guilty of the school boy error of picking the ball up twice.
From the resulting indirect free-kick, just inside the penalty area, Rob Saunders’ shot was blocked by the wall only for the referee to instruct that the kick be retaken as the Margate wall had broken too early.
From the second attempt Trego tipped Matthews’ shot over the bar.
Defensive errors midway through the second half allowed Margate back into the game.
On 57 and 69 minutes, goalkeeper Nick Hart misjudged clearances of a loose ball, and on both occasions Che Stadhart completed the elementary task of slotting the ball into an empty net.
On 73 minutes, Margate made it four when Baptiste rose unchallenged at the near post to head in his second goal, following a cross by Greg Oates.
United were given hope on 82 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for handball, but O'Connor's spot-kick was saved by Trego just to rub salt in the wound.

TARGET MAN: Jamie Cook, left, opened his scoring account for United on Saturday. Ref:86478/3