Margate manager Steve Watt heaped praise on winger Matt Bodkin after Saturday’s win at Lowestoft.

Bodkin, a winger by trade, played right-back for the first time in his career and the 34-year-old repaid his manager’s faith with an outstanding performance.

“Matt had to fill in at right-back for us,” said Watt. “He’s never played there before in a competitive game but he played really well.

“I took him off with 20 minutes to go because he’d already been booked and I was worried with how the referee was.

“He’s played more than I anticipated this year. I had an initial chat with him when he signed and said I wanted him to concentrate on his strength and conditioning.

“I didn’t want him to get too disheartened if he started one game and then not the next.

“But he has come in and played quite a few games. When we were thinking about what way to go on Saturday, do I change formation or players, when I’ve got someone with Matt’s experience and who I trust? I went with him.

“He had his moments but overall he was very good, especially when he picked the ball up and was in full flow, he’s difficult to stop.”

Gate, who travel to Tooting in Bostik Premier on Tuesday night, will find out their FA Trophy opponents on Wednesday.

The much-delayed second qualifying round tie will be at Hartsdown Park this Saturday. The FA removed Bowers & Pitsea from the competition last week but the Essex club have appealed the decision.

If Bowers fail to win their appeal, then Margate will host Egham. The winners of this weekend’s tie will visit Bath in the third qualifying round.

“It’s frustrating from our point of view,” said Watt. “Either Bowers or Egham are going to feel hard done by whatever happens.

“There’s nothing we can do about it, we’ll just do whatever we’re told to do."