1 day Ago By [email protected] (Thomas Reeves)
A much-needed clean sheet helped Margate earn a third straight league win on Saturday. Goals from forwards Tom Derry and Ibrahim Olutade, added to by substitute Ben Allen’s second-half strike, ensured the Isthmian South East play-off occupants saw off relegation-threatened Hythe 3-0 at Hartsdown Park. No.
1 Tom Wray and his backline secured a first shut-out since February 8. They are the only two clean sheets Margate have kept since December 28. “We set out at the start of the season how we wanted to build the team from the defence up,” explained player-boss Ben Greenhalgh.
“The defence set the standard by keeping 15 clean sheets by Christmas time. “There have been a few other elements to consider where we wanted to get more goals. Actually, not a lot needed to change to do that because we have always created the chances.
“But probably the mentality has turned a bit to scoring goals and, sometimes, we can leave ourselves open. “We were still positive. Seventeen clean sheets is still very good this season, we just maybe went away from what we were doing defensively a little bit.
“We always had clean sheets at the start of the season and, where we’re trying to get them back, we’re scoring, as well. “We’re just trying to take all the right elements into the money-end of the season.” When the teams met at Reachfields in January, Gate had to twice come from behind to edge a five-goal game, but they had no problems this time.
“Hythe had a go for the first 10 minutes - they didn’t cause too many problems - and we also tried to get on the front foot,” said Greenhalgh, whose side successfully reached the 10-point target their management team had aimed for from their last four fixtures. “We had so many chances in the first 10 or 20 minutes, and it was a bit disappointing we were not 2-0 or 3-0 up by half-time. “But we had to stay positive because the target was to keep a clean sheet and get the three points.
“We gave the fans something to cheer about, as well, which was important ahead of two away games in a row.” Margate visit Sevenoaks on Saturday, having lost 2-1 at home to them in January as young winger Gabriel Duo (Achilles) sustained an injury in the warm-up. Greenhalgh said: “They’re in good form.
“They’re top of the form guide and have won five of their last six. At that stage, they were the only team that had beaten us at home. It was the day Gabriel got injured.
“You have got to give Sevenoaks a lot of credit but, at the same time, we need to look at ourselves. Our standards are still high and we still want to get three points out of every game. “We always had the target of getting 75 points from the start of the season.
We’re now on 76 points, which is very good, and we celebrated that a little bit on Saturday. “We’re still ahead of the two-points-per-game mark, which we thought would give us a chance to challenge for the title. “We still have the play-offs to be confirmed so we just need to keep ticking these targets off.
” Oaks’ main threat is 28-goal striker Warren Mfula. “He has done well,” said Greenhalgh, who will be without the suspended Lewis Knight. “He is a player that got released by Dartford, just as I joined.
It would have been interesting to see how we got on. “But he has made a name for himself. There are always some names to look out for at this level.
“We will be without Lewis Knight, but we have got an unbelievable replacement in Emmanuel Oke. He has played in National League North. “He will definitely be looking forward to the challenge.
” Midfielders Jordan Ababio and James Bessey-Saldanha - two ex-Gate players from this season - are also among Marcel Nimani’s Sevenoaks ranks. Greenhalgh said: “I understand their reasoning for wanting to move on from Margate because they weren’t getting the game-time they wanted and they are now at Sevenoaks. “But we’re still in a good position.
“You can also see that TT Walters has come in and he’s already got three goals - and five assists - in six games. That’s what we wanted. “It looks like it has worked for all parties.
” Centre-half Knight, who has collected a mammoth 16 cautions this term, is expected to return from his three-match ban in time for their massive derby at leaders Ramsgate..
