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Sport

Tonbridge manager Steve McKimm on the 1-1 draw against Margate

By: Matthew Panting mpanting@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 00:00, 10 February 2019

Updated: 09:34, 10 February 2019

Tonbridge boss Steve McKimm didn’t think his side did enough to warrant three points on Saturday.

Angels were held to a 1-1 draw in Bostik Premier by Margate, despite leading for the majority of the game thanks to Joe Turner’s first-half penalty.

“We didn’t deserve more,” said McKimm. “We were flat from the start, we didn’t start on the front foot.

Tonbridge close down Margate on Saturday. Picture: Don Walker

“We got the penalty and then in the second half we did okay but you could see they had an extra spring in their step.

“They seemed a little hungrier at times in the second half which was our downfall as we didn’t get our foot on the ball and pass it when we should have done.”

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McKimm felt the tone was set by the way his side started the game.

He added; “I’m disappointed with how we started. We didn’t start how we have in the last five or six games – really going for people, and that’s a disappointing thing.

“But it’s a point and that’s 14 out of 18 so I’d take that all day long.”

Angels are ninth in the table – but just three points off third spot, and with two games in hand on most of the teams around them.

“We seem to not be losing but dropping down places,” noted McKimm. “There’s still a third of the season to go. Yes, we’ve got a couple of games in hand but we’ve got to win them. If we do that then we go in the play-offs again.

“No-one gave us a hope after December when we were on that bad run. Everyone thought we were on freefall so testament to the boys for turning it around.”

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New Margate boss Jay Saunders has already signed one player – and more are expected to arrive this week.

It’s a position McKimm would like to be in, but he knows he is reliant on donations to boost his threadbare squad.

“Jay’s a good friend and team-mate of mine,” said McKimm. “I’ve known him for years and you could see that players who’ve been injured came back for Margate and gave everything for him until they could give no more.

“He’ll make a difference to them, he’ll bring some players in – which is something I’d love to do.

“We’re low on numbers and it’s a major issue at the moment. But I can’t do anything about it as I’ve got no funds.

“I’ve got to go with it. I can’t go and get anybody and that’s where we will struggle.

“We will work on stuff but I’m relying on donations from supporters or businesses to give me £100 or £50 a week to go and get someone, just to help compliment what we’ve got.

“If someone comes up and is very generous and says there’s some money then I might be able to get a loan player for a month. It’s what we need.

“It’s part and parcel of non-league football, we have to balance the books.

“I don’t moan about it, I do mention it, but I’d love to have something like that (Margate being able to sign players). We’re very thin, we’ve got two Academy players on the bench who are not ready yet. Can I bring them on? Not in a blood and guts thunder game like that.

“We’re pushing and pushing, and hopefully it lasts out for the final third of the season.”

Read the match report from Tonbridge's 1-1 draw with Margate here

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