Ben Greenhalgh thinks Margate’s massive match against Ramsgate will be a particularly long-awaited one for some of the club’s longest-serving players.

A sell-out crowd of 2,500 will descend on Hartsdown Park for the Isthmian South East match between Thanet’s two biggest teams (1pm).

While Ben Smith’s Ramsgate side remain slight title favourites despite being overtaken by Sittingbourne at the summit, Gate are third - seven points behind them, having played a league fixture more than them.

Player-boss Greenhalgh has been with Margate since 2021 and took charge in the summer. He says the chance to face the Rams in a league game is an exciting prospect for himself and defensive stalwarts Harry Hudson, Lewis Knight and Harrison Hatfull - as well as first-team coach Elliot Leveson - in particular after a tough couple of years for the club.

“We have had plenty of discussions around what we want to do,” said Greenhalgh. “We’re slightly undecided with both personnel and shape, which is a good thing because that’s due to good performances.

“We know there will be a couple of players that might not be starting on the day who normally would want to be starting. But it’s more then about being together as a group.

“To be honest, that’s one thing we have been brilliant at this season. We have got a really good togetherness. We went to Dublin the weekend before last and 21 of us went.

“I’ve never been part of a squad where the whole squad goes. That proves everyone wants to be with each other and, hopefully, we can show that on the pitch on what will be a big fixture.

“But it’s more of an exciting one, especially for myself and players like Harry and Knighty, who have been here a little bit longer. Elliot has been on the side for quite a while and Harrison has played 100 games for the club.

“For the boys that have been here for a long time, we have probably been waiting on this fixture, really.

“You can’t big it up too much. Obviously, it’s going to be a massive game.

“It’s not going to be a league-decider. They have got a bit of a lead on us but there’s a long way to go.

Gate man makes team-of-the-week

“It’s going to feel like a cup final because it’s a derby and I know what it means to everyone in Thanet.

“The fans have been brilliant for us this season in terms of seeing the levels we have been performing at and the hard work of every single player, and it’s a lot easier to support a team like that.

“They’ll do that again on Thursday.”

The teams have already met at Southwood this term. Margate’s top scorer Ibrahim Olutade netted a stoppage-time penalty after keeper Tom Wray had saved two penalties from Ramsgate’s own marksman Joe Taylor against his old club as the Kent Senior Cup tie ended 1-0 to Gate.

Greenhalgh, who only brought himself on in the latter stages of last weekend’s 2-0 home win over Steyning Town Community, recalled: “That felt like a cup final - even when it probably shouldn’t have done!

“The boys all got a taste of that fixture and some of the new boys now know the magnitude of the rivalry.

"They know that it’s going to be a good game and a big game. We have signed the right type of players who want to play in these fixtures.

"I think everyone is going to look after themselves over Christmas and be ready and raring to go.

“I reckon, if the stadium could handle another 2,500, there would have been 5,000 there!

“It’s brilliant for Kent football. It’s also brilliant for Step 4 football.”

Margate head into the match after goals in the first 20 minutes from forward Ben Allen and Olutade - his 18th this season - ensured they saw off Steyning Town Community.

Greenhalgh reflected: “We tried a lot of different things.

“We gave a few other people minutes and we rotated a lot of stuff, and tried a different playing style which, for the first 20 minutes, worked brilliantly. It was just one of those games.

“We went 2-0 up and - I don’t want to disrespect Steyning - but the first half was all a bit too comfortable.

“It was more about how we were going to try and break them down and it was probably quite a boring game to watch, to be honest! We sort of let the game fizzle out a little bit. The second half became a little bit more open. We were slightly frustrated at times but I think that’s just the standard the boys have set.

“There was a bit of a different precedent, knowing I wasn’t starting and with other players that were coming off at half-time and being rested for the Boxing Day fixture. That played on everyone’s minds, as well, a little bit.

“But the objective was to get through the game with three points and we did.”

It was just Allen’s second Margate goal and his first since an injury lay-off, suffering a knock shortly after joining from in-form Isthmian Premier outfit Dartford.

Greenhalgh said: “What we have wanted to do all season is to just add a little bit of extra quality in the final third. That’s been an obvious area for us to work on.

“We have won a lot of games - but we haven’t won many games by big margins. Our goal difference in comparison to say Sittingbourne’s one, their goal difference is absolutely ridiculous! We knew we wanted to add a bit more quality and Ben Allen was always set to be one of those signings.

“It’s a shame we lost him for six weeks to an injury but, now, it’s just about getting his fitness back up. The good thing is he showed a lot of quality on Saturday, even in that 45-minute spell.

“If we can get him completely match-fit, which we will, we’re going to get a very good player.

“We know a lot about Ben and he’s fitted in very well.”

Gate will finish the calendar year with a league trip to East Grinstead this Saturday (3pm).

Former Margate winger Martial Godo made his Premier Division debut for Fulham in Sunday’s goalless home draw with Southampton.