Margate welcome Sheppey United to Hartsdown Park on Saturday looking to build upon last weekend’s superb win away at second placed Croydon Athletic.
Two goals from January’s Player of the Month TT Walters secured all three points in London, leaving the ‘Gate still with a sniff of a play-off place, however there is almost no margin for error.
Sheppey United head into this fixture after a frustrating 1-0 home defeat to relegation threatened Hassocks which extended their winless run to six games.
That defeat left Saturday’s visitors 15th in the league standings, however they do have a ten point cushion between themselves and the relegation places.
Margate will be without goalkeeper James Batt for the remainder of the season as the Blues continue to search for a keeper once again after Batt dislocated his knee in last week’s win. Tom Wray remains sidelined with a knee injury too as the ‘Gate’s keeper concerns continue.
Tom Derry joined Cray Wanderers on a 28 day loan late on Friday night, otherwise there is no new injury concerns for Manager Ben Greenhalgh.
This will be the 101st time these two have met dating back to 1912, however in more recent years, the ‘Gate have struggled having won just once in our last four meetings. In September, the Blues fell to a stoppage time defeat at Sheppey on an afternoon that was worsened by a serious injury to Brandon Davey, who continues to recover and could feature again soon.
Last time these two met at Hartsdown Park was that one win for the ‘Gate as goals from Harvey Brand, Max Walsh and Ibrahim Olutade secured a 3-2 thrilling win last February.
Kick-off at Hartsdown Park is 3pm, however the gates are open from 12:15pm as we are showing the live Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the Hartsdown Bar at 12:30pm.
Supporters in the Loyalty Programme will receive extra points with every purchase of Guinness between 12:30pm and 2:30pm.
