Terry Brown acknowledges that Saturday's trip to Hemel Hempstead is an opportunity for Margate to climb away from the foot of the table.

Nine of Margate's 15 points in Vanarama National League South have come on the road and their away form is actually better than 11th-placed Hemel's home record of one win in seven.

Brown admitted: "Going into the game we have every right to be positive, but so much depends on which Margate turns up on the day. Hopefully it's the one which beat Havant (three weeks ago)."

He added: "Confidence is a funny thing, you need the majority of your team to be feeling confident when you go out there.

"This is certainly an opportunity for us, but we are not taking anything for granted, every game is an opportunity.

"It's an important one for us given where we are, but their manager will tell you it's important for them too. We are in need of points, but then they probably are too."

Gate rallied to draw 1-1 at home to Bath City at a windswept Hartsdown Park on Tuesday night and Brown admitted: "It was very difficult, with the howling winds it was very hard to say whether either team played well or not. I think we both had spells."

Jake Goodman's 87th-minute goal made it seven in three games for Brown's men but he revealed he is still: "actively looking to get a couple of loan players in to bolster the squad."

He added: "We need some width going forward and a spark in the penalty area. I have made several enquiries, all the way from the Premier League - or at least the under-21 league - down to the Ryman League.

"Hopefully we will be able to get one or two done in time for Saturday."