Boss Reece Prestedge has set a minimum points target as Margate enter their season run-in.

Gate have all but secured their Isthmian Premier status for another year after last Tuesday’s 1-0 victory at Potters Bar through full-back Harrison Hatfull’s first-half goal which moved them to the 40-point mark.

That result was followed by a 5-2 weekend defeat at high-flying Canvey Island and Prestedge isn’t about to rest on his laurels.

“We’re going to set a target that we want 10 points from our last eight games,” said Prestedge, whose 15th-placed side tonight are due to visit Bognor.

“That guarantees safety anyway. Just because we have hit 40, we’re not taking our foot off.

“Nothing is guaranteed until it’s guaranteed so we want to get 50 points now we have got to 40 points.”

There’s another tricky match for Margate this Saturday when they host a third-placed Aveley team who still harbour title ambitions.

Prestedge noted: “We have got quite a tough run, to be honest.

“We have still got Hornchurch, Lewes and, obviously, Aveley. We have got some tough games coming up.

“But we don’t see any game being an easier one.”

Player-assistant manager Ben Greenhalgh gave Gate a half-time advantage at Canvey with a penalty but the hosts stormed back with three goals in three minutes, one by Elliot Ronto and two from Evans Kouassi.

Full-back Freddy Barton gave the visitors late hope but Kouassi’s hat-trick goal and a Bradley Sach strike moved Canvey clear.

“I think it’s more of a frustrating one to be honest,” reflected Prestedge.

“After the game, I was a bit disappointed. But Sunday night, me and Ben analysed it, and it was just a mad 10 minutes of football for us.

“First half, we were quite comfortable, creating a lot of chances and we went 1-0 up. We knew they would come out firing and we had a spell of chaotic play as a whole team.

“I said at half-time ‘Don’t give away any silly corners’ - and in the first five minutes of the second half, we gave three away.

“Then, we got back to 3-2 and there’s six minutes added. You think ‘We could get a draw here’ and, literally, they score straight from kick-off.

“So it was frustrating as a whole but, first half, was very good - although it seems silly to say when you lose 5-2!

“It was just some mad moments that cost us and that’s been very unlike us.”

The Canvey loss came after four straight clean sheets, with Margate having conceded just five times in their past 11 games in all competitions before then.

Prestedge said: “Maybe, it’s a good reality check.

“Defensively, we have been exceptional. Like I said after the game, I cannot be too disappointed with it because, the last nine games, we’ve conceded three goals.

"We have been excellent.”

And while Margate have picked up injuries, Prestedge is eager not to use that as an excuse.

He explained: “We were in a really good place.

"But we probably have a few little niggles where the games are coming on top of you.

“We will have a few players out [at Bognor] but we have always dealt with it and I don’t see any reason why it should hinder what we’re trying to do.”

Midfielder James Bessey-Saldanha has joined Bearsted on a dual-registration basis.