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Player-boss Ben Greenhalgh might be known for his goalscoring - but it’s Margate’s new-found defensive resolve which is pleasing him most.
Gate progressed to the FA Cup first qualifying round with a 4-0 weekend home win over Loxwood, having been held to an opening-day goalless Isthmian South East draw by East Grinstead.
While Greenhalgh got off the mark for the campaign with a hat-trick himself, he was keen to point to the work put in by young keeper Tom Wray and Margate’s backline.
“The biggest positive from Saturday again was the clean sheet,” he said. “Two clean sheets from two games is massive.
“Last year, in total, Margate got four clean sheets - and we’re getting close to that tally already! It’s something that we knew we needed to get right.
“It’s not perfect yet - there’s going to be games where we’re going to be tested - and, obviously, this weekend is going to throw up a few difficult games.
“We were creating a lot of chances on Saturday, like we did the previous weekend against East Grinstead, but we were putting them in the back of the net this time around.
“That’s really important.”
Of course, surpassing the 2023/24 clean sheet tally during their Isthmian Premier campaign which ended in relegation should be a simple task.
On the number of shut-outs Gate’s management team want this term, Greenhalgh revealed: “Our target is 15.
“If we’re being honest, having looked at all the statistics, if you want to have a good league campaign, you need 15.
“Then when you look at the FA Cup and other competitions as well, if you want to have a really good season as a group, you’re probably pushing more towards the 20 mark. That’ll be a brilliant target for us to hit.
“But if you want to be successful and want to keep winning games, that has to start with clean sheets.”
Greenhalgh made the most of Margate’s numerical advantage after defender Aaron Bogle was sent off for a foul on Jordan Ababio on 40 minutes.
His first was a converted spot-kick after another foul on winger Ababio before he struck twice more in the second half.
“I have got to make sure that I’m managing myself and getting the most out of myself as a player,” he said.
“That’s one thing where we looked back at the analysis of the East Grinstead game and I just didn’t get myself in the box enough to get on the end of the chances.
“We looked into that a little bit so I got a bit higher up the pitch on Saturday and, obviously, that resulted in me getting three goals. I’ve got my own personal targets.
“I have to treat myself as a player at the same time and still help out in that way, and it’s good that I managed to do that on Saturday.”
Playmaker Greenhalgh’s treble came after summer signing Lukas Franzen-Jones got his first competitive goal in the 10th minute to break the deadlock.
“I think getting that first goal in a Margate shirt will be massive for him,” said Greenhalgh.
“Hopefully, he can kick on from here.”
Gate visit Ashford on Friday evening before they welcome Herne Bay to Hartsdown Park on Bank Holiday Monday.
Greenhalgh said: “This is how the league is set up for us. It’s brilliant because we’re going to have loads of Kent derbies.
“Hopefully, we can get more supporters there because the away games are a little bit closer.
“I spoke to quite a few of them on Saturday and a lot of them want to come to Ashford. That’s great to see because it means we’ll get more away support.
“They’re Kent derbies so we’re not going to get an easy three points out of either of them.
“Ashford are a team that a lot of people have as favourites to win the league. They’re a very experienced team.
“We might have to put on a bit of a different performance to come out with a result. But Herne Bay isn’t going to be a walkover on Monday whatsoever, as well.
“They’re another well-respected team at this level and have got a good management staff, who understand non-league football. They’re going to be two really good games.
“This is what we play football for at the end of the day - these Bank Holiday weekend games, where they’re filled with Kent derbies and, hopefully from our perspective, it’s a really good weekend.”
