Margate welcome Isthmian South-East Division leaders Three Bridges to Hartsdown Park on Saturday, desperately looking to improve their home form.
Two wins on the road in the last two weeks have lifted spirits around the camp, those wins means the ‘Gate have lost just once away from home in their previous 12 outings, a 3-0 defeat away at Three Bridges in December.
In contrast though the Blues home form has been polar opposite. A 2-0 win over Sheppey United in February remains the Blues only win at Hartsdown Park in their last seven attempts, stretching back to November 2025.
Margate will be looking to avoid a third straight defeat at Hartsdown Park after defeats to Deal Town and Crowborough Athletic since beating Sheppey United.
That one away defeat at Three Bridges away from home in their past 12 is somewhat of an anomaly for the Blues. On a dreadful afternoon in December, Margate were reduced to nine men after goalkeeper Tom Wray was sent off in the 42nd minute, followed by Sam Blackman at half -time, leaving the Blues with nine players for the second half, including player/manager Ben Greenhalgh in goal.
Last time these two sides met at Hartsdown Park it was a chilly October Tuesday evening in 2024 as a Ben Greenhalgh double secured a routine 2-0 win for the Blues.
Three Bridges victory in December was heir only competitive win against the Blues in the four previous meetings.
The Sussex side sit eight points clear at the summit with seven games left to play. In their previous nine games, Three Bridges have won eight and lost just once, a 1-0 defeat to Sittingbourne, highlighting the magnitude of the task that awaits the ‘Gate this weekend.
Greenhalgh will be able to call Emmanuel Oke into the squad once again after he served a one game ban last week for his red card at Broadbridge Heath, otherwise supporters could expect to see a similar line-up to last week.
Gates open at 12:15pm with Brighton v Liverpool and Ipswich v Millwall being shown live on the screens in the Hartsdown Bar.
Kick-off is 3pm with tickets available to purchase in advance here
