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Margate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh on signing striker Tom Derry and their 2-2 Isthmian South East home draw against Phoenix Sports

New Margate striker Tom Derry will offer another dimension to the side for their promotion push, according to player-boss Ben Greenhalgh.

Derry made his bow in fourth-placed Gate’s 2-2 home Isthmian South East draw with relegation-threatened Phoenix Sports last weekend, having arrived from Isthmian Premier Folkestone Invicta.

Margate midfielder Max Walsh celebrates his goal in last weekend’s 2-2 home Isthmian South East draw against Phoenix Sports. Photo: Stuart Watson
Margate midfielder Max Walsh celebrates his goal in last weekend’s 2-2 home Isthmian South East draw against Phoenix Sports. Photo: Stuart Watson

The move sees playmaker Greenhalgh reunite with Derry, who turned 30 on Monday, after the pair played together at Tonbridge.

Greenhalgh said: “Tom is one I’ve always spoken to.

“I’ve tried to get him to Margate before - but he has been doing well at other clubs. When this opportunity came up after he left Folkestone, we acted on it.

“He offers something we didn’t quite have.

“Ibzs (Ibrahim Olutade) has got a lot of goals and Atko (Louie Atkins) has done very well for a young player. But Tom offers us something in the air.

Kai Garande takes the ball up the left wing for Margate in an attacking move. Photo: Stuart Watson
Kai Garande takes the ball up the left wing for Margate in an attacking move. Photo: Stuart Watson

“We’re a very young squad and, at this time of the season, you do need a couple of experienced lads.

“Hopefully, he can help us all - as a team - get the goals that we need over the rest of the season.”

With Derry instantly going into the starting line-up, Margate were able to leave top scorer Olutade on the substitutes’ bench against Phoenix.

“We’re really pleased,” said Greenhalgh of his squad.

“It’s now a case of managing the squad, and players understanding there’s going to be moments where they’re playing and moments where they’re having to sit out.

Margate goalkeeper Tom Wray gathers the ball. Photo: Stuart Watson
Margate goalkeeper Tom Wray gathers the ball. Photo: Stuart Watson

“We have got a really tough run of games after our next home game and we’ll play Sittingbourne twice in that spell.

“When you’ve got a new team and squad, everyone always wants to play. But you need to get that understanding in the squad and people need to be patient.

“We have had a good season. But we’ll need the support of everyone, and for them to all be positive, for the rest of the season, as well.”

Gate had to make do with a point against Darren Anslow’s much-improved Phoenix team despite the visitors ending with 10 men after player-coach Bradley Pritchard was sent off in the 68th minute after he came off the substitutes’ bench.

“We are more frustrated with ourselves because of the standards we set at the start of the season,” reflected Greenhalgh.

Phoenix keeper Sam Freeman gets his hands to the ball. Photo: Stuart Watson
Phoenix keeper Sam Freeman gets his hands to the ball. Photo: Stuart Watson

“It’s been quite a frustrating January. We feel we should have got more points from it, but we just haven’t finished off some teams.

“But there’s always going to be moments like this during a season. We’re on course for our initial target of 75 points this season.

“Then, with two-points-per-game, that should normally be good enough to get you around being champions. The harsh reality is that might not be the case this season.

“I can understand the players and even the fans being frustrated slightly after Saturday, but I think Phoenix played well. Darren has got a midfield that can play in rotation and they play some good football.

“At the same time, our keeper, Tom Wray, didn’t have too much to do.

Ben Allen on the ball for Margate, being put under pressure from Phoenix Sports' William Grieveson. Photo: Stuart Watson
Ben Allen on the ball for Margate, being put under pressure from Phoenix Sports' William Grieveson. Photo: Stuart Watson

“I think we had more chances towards the end, but there weren’t a massive amount of chances. I think we’re frustrated with the goals we’re conceding - and Tom is, as well.

“We were keeping clean sheets at the start of the season but we have gone away from that slightly

“But we have got ourselves in a good position and, hopefully, we can start peaking at the money time of the season - towards the end.”

Forward Ben Allen and midfielder Max Walsh both continued their rich goalscoring form in the first half against Phoenix.

“Max’s goal ratio has been good since he came in,” said Greenhalgh, who revealed winger Gabriel Duo (Achilles) - another unearthed in Dartford’s Academy, like Walsh - is expected to be out for the rest of this season after the injury he sustained ahead of the Sevenoaks game earlier this month.

Jordan Ababio - has made his Margate departure this week. Picture: Stuart Watson
Jordan Ababio - has made his Margate departure this week. Picture: Stuart Watson

“Max offers us that creativity. He’s a player I’ve known for a long time and worked with over a few years so I know his strengths and his weaknesses.

“I think he’s at the right club for him.”

Margate will have a fixture-free Saturday before they return to league action when they welcome Lancing to Hartsdown Park on February 8.

“Hopefully, it should help us,” said Greenhalgh on a break from league action.

“If you look at the levels we have set for ourselves this season, they have been really high and those numbers have dropped slightly recently.

“Hopefully, we can have a mini pre-season to rest and get ourselves going again.”

Winger Jordan Ababio has left Gate this week in search of more regular first-team football closer to home.

Substitute Josh Ajayi scored a stoppage-time free-kick as Ramsgate won 1-0 at Erith Town on Saturday, with newly-signed Jefferson Aibangbee also coming off the bench for his debut.

The Isthmian South East leaders, whose midweek trip to Merstham failed a pitch inspection, host struggling Littlehampton on Saturday.

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