Saunders: "Two Points Dropped"

Manager Jay Saunders admitted it was another “two points dropped” on Saturday as his side were held to a 0-0 draw by bottom of the league East Thurrock United.

“It is definitely two points dropped. I said before that we have to beat teams below us. It’s frustrating, it happens and we have to move on from it and that is the beauty of a game Tuesday night”.

“A positive is another clean sheet which is the third in a row but things have dried up in the attacking sense so we have to put that right”.

Incredibly, Margate have a goal difference of 0 after 29 games and again Saunders mentioned the need for a 20 goal a season striker.

“We haven’t got that striker at the moment. You look around us and everyone has a player well into double figures and we don’t”.

“Ben (Greenhalgh) and Vance (Bola) have had good returns this season but we can’t just rely on two people to score all the goals”.

Saunders added he had been impressed with on-loan Gills striker Joseph Gbode.

“I’ve been really impressed with Joseph but we just haven’t given him the service he needs to score goals, but I am pleased with the other stuff he is doing”.

With Margate missing two opportunities to close the gap on the play-offs, Saunders admits it is down to him and his management team to ensure the season doesn’t just peter out.

“It is down to us as a management team to keep on at them and make sure they do the right things so the season doesn’t just drift away from us”.

“It starts again Tuesday night against Merstham where we have to really go at them and try and get an early goal to give us the advantage”.

Despite having 17 games to play in the league, Saunders says he has held positive meetings with the clubs Owner and Chairman about moving the squad forward ahead of next season.

“I had a really positive conversation with the Owner and Chairman after the Horsham win about us moving the squad forward”.

“We want to tie down the players we have here for next season early and then build upon that. I think if you look at the squad we have a good nucleus and we just need to improve on one or two key positions”.

Margate return to action on Tuesday evening as they welcome Merstham to Hartsdown Park with kick-off at 7:45pm.

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