Ben Greenhalgh is embracing the chance to head to new grounds and face different opposition with Margate this season.

Hat-trick hero Ibrahim Olutade led the way as Gate, looking to bounce back from last term’s Isthmian Premier relegation, responded from their first Isthmian South East defeat this season with a 3-2 victory at Sheppey last weekend.

While Margate player-manager Greenhalgh, who also runs Dartford’s Academy, had been to Holm Park previously, it was his first time playing at the ground.

Gate visit Erith Town tonight before a home game against another newly-promoted side, Eastbourne Town, this weekend.

Greenhalgh said: “This is what’s quite exciting about the league for us this year.

“We’re doing a lot of homework on these teams and for a lot of the players - including myself - it’s the first time we have been to these grounds.

“Although I know they’ve been a strong side at the level for a few years, it was my first time playing at Sheppey. We have got to respect these teams.

Gate hat-trick hero makes team-of-the-week

“Erith Town, they’re a side that have had a very good start to the season, as well. I’m looking forward to these challenges, tactically, to try and get the better of these teams.

“Then, playing Eastbourne at home on Saturday, I’m just really looking forward to playing the way we want to again at Hartsdown Park.”

Olutade gave Gate a 1-0 half-time advantage at Sheppey, only for ex-Margate defender Sinn’Kaye Christie to equalise in front of a crowd of 419.

But the striker struck twice more, leaving home skipper Danny Leonard’s stoppage-time goal as a consolation.

“It was a bit of a strange game,” reflected Greenhalgh.

“I felt like we deserved the three points and we put in the right performance to get three points. But there were moments where it was shaky.

“With players like Gil Carvalho and Danny Leonard on the wing for them, it was always going to be tough. They’re a good side and you can see how they win games.”

While there has been some criticism over a general lack of a clinical edge from Margate at the start of the season, Olutade is already on 11 goals for the campaign.

Greenhalgh said: “I think there’s been some criticism around us not scoring enough goals and Ibz has taken that on his shoulders a little.

“But even before Saturday, Ibz was on eight, which is a good return, and is now on 11 goals. That’s a brilliant return for this point in the season. He’s definitely pulling in the right direction.

“We’re challenging him to get to 20 or 25 goals this season. But if he keeps going the way that he is going, he can aim for higher numbers.

“A lot of the criticism around us not scoring enough isn’t down to one player.

“We create loads of chances and the one dynamic that we don’t really have in our squad is a target man. But even if we did have one, that doesn’t mean they would score the goals.”

Defender Emmanuel Oke returned at Sheppey, filling in for Lewis Knight in his first appearance this term, as he continues to bide his time in attempts to target a higher-division move.

“Emmanuel did well,” Greenhalgh stated. “You can see he’s had a bit of time off from playing where he has been without a club. But he fitted in straight away.

"He’s a player that we have always looked after. That’s why he came in and played, with Knighty suspended. At the same time, ‘E-Man’, if he can, wants to play a bit higher.

“Some managers might be having a bit of a look at him and seeing if they’ll take a gamble on him. I don’t think it would be a gamble - he’s good enough.

“We will have a conversation in a few weeks’ time when he knows where he’s at, and we know where we’re at, a little more.”

Gate’s win over The Ites came after they had been edged out 2-1 at Burgess Hill despite Olutade’s first-half effort last Tuesday.

Greenhalgh said: “The league loss hit us really hard.

“We had gone on for so long without losing - more than two months - that you think you can just keep on doing that.

“It’s not like Burgess Hill battered us. We probably warranted coming away with something.

"It was a game that could have gone either way and it’s gone their way.

"So, it was a good way to bounce back on Saturday, especially against another side who are strong.”

Margate visit Herne Bay in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday.

Midfielder Billy Munday has rejoined Ramsgate from rivals Deal Town.

His weekend arrival came after forward Kai Garrett, formerly of Gillingham and Dover, was an unused substitute in last Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Steyning Town Community as midfielder TJ Jadama got the only goal.

The Rams, whose match at East Grinstead last Saturday was postponed after a failed pitch inspection, visit Phoenix Sports in Isthmian South East tonight and will be at home to Burgess Hill on Saturday. They host Sevenoaks on Tuesday.