Mark Stimson is calling upon Margate’s players to use their draw at home to promotion-chasing Enfield as a springboard in their Isthmian Premier survival bid.

Fourth-bottom side Gate ended a four-game losing run with a 1-1 draw against the play-off occupants - despite playing most of the match with 10 men after debutant Destiny Oladipo had been sent off.

Margate moved further away from safety despite the point, with fifth-bottom Cheshunt earning a third successive win 1-0 against Carshalton on the same day.

Boss Stimson, whose side are due to visit Cheshunt tonight as skipper Sam Blackman returns from suspension, said: “In football, the hardest thing is to do it week in, week out.

“It’s all right doing it once every few games. We have shown it. Unfortunately, we have shown it in halves of the games.

“But Saturday, we were good for 90 minutes. We got the result from that.

“I said to the players on Saturday ‘Well done. Now, let’s do it again for seven games’ - we’re not asking them to do it for 27 or 37 games. It’s just seven now.

“I don’t think that’s a big ask.”

Big striker Oladipo, a recent recruit from Dover, picked up his two cautions inside just five minutes.

Stimson’s side then went behind 11 minutes later. But they levelled through a penalty by top scorer Steve Cawley in first-half stoppage time and there was to be no winning goal, despite both teams having chances.

Stimson reflected: “It was always going to be a tough game, playing Enfield, who are third.

“Unfortunately, it was made a little bit more difficult, having someone sent off after five minutes. I felt for Destiny.

“He’s played for me before and he’s not an aggressive type of player, even though he’s a big lad. I thought it was harsh - I can see one (being a yellow card) but the other one was harsh.

“Going down to 10 men and then conceding not long after that, it was always going to be an uphill struggle. But full credit to the players.

“We even had a couple of chances to win the game but, against a team who are third and down to 10 men, we probably would have taken the point.”

Oladipo is now set to be suspended as Gate begin the first part of their Easter double-header at Potters Bar this Saturday before they host Cray Wanderers 48 hours later.

“It’s a shame that he’s going to miss one game - but it’s just the one,” said Stimson, who revealed they had asked Potters Bar if that game could be moved forward to Friday.

“With games on Saturday and Monday, it might mean I go with two strikers on Saturday and then Destiny can possibly come back in on Monday.”

Margate have also signed young Dartford players Ashton Day, Jeremiah Pinder and Louie Atkins on dual registration. Forward Pinder came off the substitutes’ bench against Enfield.

“We had a look at a couple last week in training,” Stimson explained. “They’re young boys.

“They will bring energy and a freshness, especially in the attacking areas.

“We have brought in two from Dartford and Destiny that are forwards. That’s important because we need to win games.

“With games Tuesday-to-Saturday-to-Monday, that’s a lot of football, as well, and the squad wasn’t the biggest.”

Defender Lewis Knight won the spot-kick against Enfield and is playing regularly again after more than a month away from football earlier this year.

“Lewis has slotted back in,” noted Stimson. “He got us the penalty and had a decent game.

“Tyrone (Sterling) is going to be out for a few weeks, so he will get an opportunity. He needs to make sure that he performs consistently.”

The penalty was converted by 19-goal Cawley who, nursing a knock, hadn’t started the game.

Stimson said: “Steve has been carrying a bit of a calf injury.

“Destiny came in and had some fresher legs for Saturday - although that didn’t work out!

“But Steve did the right thing. He took the penalty and did what we expected him to do.”

A minute’s applause will be held in memory of supporters’ club chairman Andy Everson,
who died last Thursday, ahead of Margate’s match against Cray Wanderers.