Home   Thanet   Sport   Article

Margate player-manager Ben Greenhalgh on responding after 15-match Isthmian South East unbeaten run ends, title talk and hosting second-placed Sittingbourne

Ben Greenhalgh thinks Margate should take plenty of credit for being mentioned in this season's Isthmian South East title race - but is refusing to get carried away.

There is a top-three match in store at Hartsdown Park as Gate aim to bounce back after last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Sevenoaks when they face Sittingbourne tonight (7.45pm).

Ben Greenhalgh - his Margate side will aim to get back on track after a weekend defeat at home to fellow high-fliers Sittingbourne tonight. Picture: Stuart Watson
Ben Greenhalgh - his Margate side will aim to get back on track after a weekend defeat at home to fellow high-fliers Sittingbourne tonight. Picture: Stuart Watson

Margate had been on a 15-game unbeaten league streak before they went down to Marcel Nimani’s men despite substitute Jordan Ababio’s stoppage-time consolation goal - a game taken in by Sittingbourne’s ex-Gate boss Reece Prestedge.

The third-placed team are nine points off the summit and seven points adrift of second-placed Sittingbourne, albeit Ramsgate and the Brickies have played two league fixtures less.

“One thing we have done well this season is we haven’t got ahead of ourselves,” said Margate player-manager Greenhalgh.

“I think a lot of people have started calling us a ‘dark horse’ and saying we’re the next best team behind Ramsgate and Sittingbourne, and we take a lot of credit for that.

“But if we’re being honest, we’re still working on a lot of things with a brand-new team. There were going to be moments like this.

Report: Margate 1-2 Sevenoaks

Greenhalgh: ‘I’ve never seen it happen before’

“We need to take it on the chin and make sure we come out of these moments as quickly as we can.”

As well as aiming to win the title, Ryan Maxwell’s men have also reached the last 16 of the FA Trophy but saw their scheduled weekend match at Erith Town fall victim to the weather.

Greenhalgh said: “Sittingbourne are probably the most organised team in the league.

“Saturday was probably the first game where we didn’t look very organised so we’re going to have a big think about things.

“Frustratingly, they’re, obviously, going to be fresher than us - which seems to be happening a lot lately.

“You wouldn’t have moaned too much about that if we had got the three points on Saturday but, now that we haven’t, it’s kind of a double negative.”

Winger Gabriel Duo (Achilles) is likely to miss at least the Sittingbourne encounter after pulling up ahead of kick-off before the Sevenoaks match, which may tempt Margate to bolster their squad further in the near future.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More