Reece Prestedge wants his depleted Margate squad to have a strong finish to the season - and his players have already responded impressively to their manager’s message.

Gate came from two goals down at Isthmian Premier leaders Hornchurch to win 3-2 on Saturday.

Prestedge welcomed back midfielder Sam Blackman and striker Phil Roberts, although defenders Harrison Hatfull and Harry Hudson continued to form part of Gate’s lengthy injury list.

Margate are now well clear of the relegation zone in 16th but Prestedge doesn’t want their season to peter out.

He said: “I don’t look at it as seeing the season out.

"Managers - whether you want to play here or want to play higher - always remember the last two months of the season.

“If you have a great last six games, it becomes an easy conversation to have, rather than being on fire at the start of the season but it fizzled out.

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“I think the boys took that well and it showed on Saturday.”

Player-assistant manager Ben Greenhalgh was their star. He set up midfielder Blackman’s goal and netted twice, including a superb 40-yard effort.

“Ben’s quality,” Prestedge noted.

“We will always have a chance when he’s on the pitch - with his corners and free-kicks or whatever it may be.

“He has been trying that 40-yard shot all season! He’s tried one every game but he’s pulled it off and he delivered some fantastic crosses as well, one before Blacky’s goal and one after the goal.

“He will probably tell you the first one was a shot but I think it’s a cross-shot.

"But that’s the sort of thing you need when you’re down there.”

Greenhalgh, 30, is also Dartford’s Academy boss.

Prestedge said: “Ben loves the coaching side of it as well.

“For him, it’s just nice he has performed, as well as doing the other side of it.

"When he takes training, he’s respected so I’m pleased.”

Gate showed great character having trailed at half-time. But Prestedge felt they didn’t deserve to be 2-0 behind in the first place.

“I don’t think we deserved to go 2-0 down,” he said.

“We were very good for the first 25 or 30 minutes, [and] it showed because they actually changed formation during the game.

“Ruben [Soares-Junior] was really getting at them.

"With the way they changed, we sort of stopped what we were doing and then they got a penalty. That, obviously, kills you and you cannot give teams like Hornchurch a leg up.”

Prior to the transfer window closing last Thursday, Margate brought in forward Fyn Rutherford and winger Kenzie Parkinson on dual-registration deals from Tonbridge and Dartford, respectively.

Parkinson didn’t feature at Hornchurch, having played a youth game the day before, albeit Rutherford did come off the bench.

Next up for Gate is a home encounter against Lewes this Saturday.

Margate will host Canterbury City in a groundshare deal next season.