Margate player-manager Ben Greenhalgh feels fans in the area deserve a big Thanet derby - and admits the onus is on his team to ensure it remains next season.

Isthmian South East play-off occupants Gate and champions-elect Ramsgate have already played twice this term, with Greenhalgh’s side winning a dramatic Kent Senior Cup tie 1-0 at Southwood in September before a Boxing Day 2-2 league draw at Hartsdown Park.

The sides meet again at Ramsgate on Easter Monday in front of a sell-out crowd (kick-off 3pm), by which time Ben Smith’s side may already have got the three points they require to guarantee they will finish first.

That would mean they won’t meet in the league again in the 2025/26 campaign, unless Margate earn promotion through the play-offs.

On the rivalry, playmaker Greenhalgh, whose troops will first host play-off chasing Beckenham on Easter Friday (kick-off 1pm), said: “The fans deserve that.

“It’s probably one of the biggest rivalries I’ve experienced in non-league football. But we’re quite open on how each other does things.

“I don’t see too many Ramsgate fans, but I speak to a few. They have been very complimentary about us and some have said they expect us to go up in the play-offs.

“They will probably have already become champions by Monday and credit to them because they have been going at it for four seasons and, now, they seem to have got there after last year’s disappointment.

“Margate have had a tough couple of years, getting 39 and 44 points.

“The best thing for the area would be if we stayed in the same division. But that’s probably more down to us winning the play-offs!

“As a player - let alone as a manager - it would be disappointing to not be playing them.”

Fourth-placed Gate secured a top-five finish as they drew 3-3 at Merstham, who occupy the final play-off place.

One-time Margate forward Korrey Henry and Matt Drage struck inside 15 minutes for the Moatsiders.

A hat-trick from Gate’s top scorer Ibrahim Olutade flipped the game on its head, only for substitute Aidan Brown to get a last-gasp leveller.

Greenhalgh, who played Reece Hobbs in goal, reflected: “They scored a goal early on, which was disappointing.

"A few minutes later, a header from Blacky (Sam Blackman) went over the line, but that wasn’t given. But it was us that was 1-0 down so we just got on with it.

“We then conceded from a free-kick. Hobbsy, who came in for Tom Wray, kind of knew - and we all knew - where the free-kick was going to go from Matt Drage.

"It was just difficult to go there before he hit the ball. But in hindsight, we should have done better with that.

“From that point, we took the match to them. Their goalkeeper, Rob Tolfrey, who I’ve played against numerous times over the years, made some good saves. It started looking like it was going to be one of those days.

“Then, we won a penalty before half-time and Ibzs converted that. I know he scored the winner against Ramsgate in the Kent Cup but that was one of the best moments for Ibzs this year on Saturday.

“He was at the end of the wall (for Merstham’s second). The second goal isn’t his fault entirely, but it was good he made up for that.

“We were still very disappointed with how we had started at half-time but we knew that we were in the game, which was positive.

“Then, we took it to them in the second half. It was probably one of the most dominant displays all year and we went 3-2 ahead.

“Knowing how good Merstham are, and knowing a point would secure a play-off place, it wasn’t as much of a blow when they scored late. But it was still disappointing.

“We had tried to get Tyrone Sterling on for that final corner. But the referee didn’t let us make the substitution and they scored in the 100th minute.

“Merstham showed that fighting spirit and you have to give Jamie (Decruz, their manager) credit. They play some good football and they’re similar to us.

“When you look at it, they have beaten Ramsgate and Sittingbourne at home this year, and it looked at one stage that we might take it 3-2 against them, which is really positive.”

Greenhalgh, 33 today, also revealed Gate had been issued an apology for a key call to incorrectly rule out a goal by striker Olutade in this month’s 3-3 draw at Sevenoaks as he called on officials to be made to explain their decisions.

He said: “The FA have apologised to us for the decision in the Sevenoaks game.

“I think fair play to them because officials do make mistakes. But that goal would have allowed us to go 4-2 up and given us a chance to get another two points.

“The main talking point from the weekend was the Dorking game. Their player got sent off, a second yellow for ‘time-wasting’, when he had been asked to go back for a throw-in.

“I think referees should sometimes have to come out and explain their decisions. Not even necessarily just to back themselves up, but it would help them feel part of the game and for everyone to understand their decisions more.

“I like to do as many interviews as I can because I think the fans deserve to know my thoughts on the team.

“Even if the referee came out and just apologised if they got something wrong, maybe we wouldn’t be still talking about the Sevenoaks game.”

When Margate played at Beckenham in September, the visitors won 2-0 through midfielder Harvey Brand’s brace.