Blackman: "A chance to get on the front foot"

Assistant Manager Lloyd Blackman says Margate must use their remaining games to “get on the front foot” ahead of the 2022/23 season.

The Blues welcome Potters Bar Town to Hartsdown Park this weekend after suffering two disappointing defeats at Bognor Regis Town and Lewes, although Blackman says the remaining games in the league still count for something.

“We want to finish the season as strong as possible. Firstly, in the cups we have been successful in reaching one final, and a Quarter-Final of another, so the chance to finish as high in the league is important”.

“Secondly, it will allow us to get on the front foot ahead of next season and take the momentum we have into the new season”.

With the cup final grabbing all the headlines in the past week, Blackman insists that it is one game at a time, but admits that him and Manager Jay Saunders are not ‘naïve’ enough to recognise it is their job to ensure that it remains that way within the squad.

“It is always one game at a time in football, however me and Jay know what a big occasion this is for the club and the players, so naturally excitement levels will get high and we have to control that”.

Having only met Potters Bar just over two weeks ago in the league due to a previous postponement, Blackman says he doesn’t expect too much difference in what the visitors will offer.

“It is a strange one as usually you will have three or four months between the reverse fixture, but in this case it is about 16 days”.

“When it is a longer time frame, like three or four months’ lots can change, including managers, players and styles of play etc., but on this occasion I expect it to be a very similar game, but hopefully with a different outcome”,

With the club announcing two free supporter’s coaches to the cup final on Wednesday 13th April at Aveley, Blackman says the occasion will be fantastic, but only when the time comes.

“We have two league games and a cup Quarter-Final to contend with first, but don’t get me wrong, to achieve this in the season where the club has celebrated its 125-year anniversary and to be a part of it is amazing”.

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