Margate player-manager Ben Greenhalgh can only recall facing weekend hosts Littlehampton once previously - and does so with fond memories!

Promotion-chasing Gate will return to Isthmian South East action after a two-week break at the Sportsfield this Saturday when they’ll take on a side just above the relegation zone on a five-game winless run.

Greenhalgh faced Littlehampton - then of Sussex County League Division 1 - in the FA Cup first qualifying round with Maidstone 10 years ago.

He recalled: “I think I’ve only played Littlehampton once before - with Maidstone in the FA Cup. We won 10-0 and I scored two goals.

“But I’ve watched Littlehampton at Wembley [reaching the FA Vase final in 2022], as well, so I know they’re a team on the up. To be fair, they have got some good players.

“Sittingbourne beat them 1-0 last Tuesday but Sittingbourne are a very strong and very dynamic side.

“It will be similar to the Phoenix game for us. They are both better than they look on the league table and Saturday will be a tough game.

“But we will go there with a game plan and try to stick to it. If we do that, we can keep our momentum going.”

Gate’s enforced break from competitive action has proved a welcome one for forward Ben Allen, who has had an injury-hit start since his move from Dartford, while some of their promotion rivals have dropped points at a time when Margate’s players have had their feet up.

“The good thing is it’s allowed people like Ben Allen to be pushing to be back in the squad,” said Greenhalgh, who brought his players together for a light training session on Saturday.

“Considering he was a great signing and Ben’s a brilliant lad, we’ve only had him for three games.

“He did well in those three games but he’ll be like a new signing. The main thing is getting everyone fit and firing.

“It was quite funny last Tuesday night where we weren’t playing - and we were trying to work out how there was 26 minutes added on in the Ramsgate game or whatever it was! It was quite a good week for us in terms of the games that were played with Sheppey only drawing, as well.

“It can go the other way. When we had our run in the FA Cup, we could see Beckenham kept getting results in the league.

“But the harsh reality is that we didn’t get any points on those weekends, either.”

While a break could have been an ideal chance to strengthen their squad ahead of the hectic festive period, Greenhalgh has remained largely loyal to the team he put together this summer.

He said: “I’ve said all the way from pre-season that we were very happy with the squad we got together in a short space of time. For a new squad, we were happy with how it gelled.

“Earlier on in the season, we dropped a couple of sloppy points. But it’s been good on the whole and we have the best away record in the league.

“I’ve found the hardest thing in management sometimes is just standing still and being pleased with where you’re at.

“There have been times where people are not performing and they have come out of the squad or the team. But we’re pleased with what we have got.

“Don’t get me wrong, there’s always times where we might need to add to the group and I think you always have to stay active in non-league football.

“But the biggest positive for us is there’s not been a lot of movement at all.”