My great team will win the league, insists Trott

Margate climbed to the summit of the Ryman Premier League table following their professional job on their Kent rivals Tonbridge Angels yesterday, and Robin Trott insists they are good enough to stay there, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Gate boss, who plays in the heart of their defence alongside Pat Sappleton, saw his side win their fifth successive game at a soggy Betterview Longmead Stadium.

Despite missing their 19-goal hit-man Danny Hockton, whose nursing a groin injury, they took the lead after 16 minutes through Jay Saunders’ bicycle kick, which found the bottom right corner from ten-yards.

But Tonbridge Angels, who won 3-2 at AFC Wimbledon seven days earlier, equalised eleven minutes later when Jon Main netted his 18^th goal of the season.

Margate wrapped up their deserved victory with a freak goal in the 35^th minute.

Right-sided midfielder Paul Abbott launched a high ball high into the air from 45-yards but the ball caught the win and caught out goalkeeper Aaron Kerr and the ball dropped into the back of his net.

But Trott was delighted that his side climbed to the top of the table after winning their tenth league game of the season

He told www.kentishfootball.co.uk yesterday: “Any wins a good win, and to come down here, it’s not the easiest of places to play.

“They’re a dogged side, there very together, young side, Dolbs (Angels boss Tony Dolby) got a good team here but we had a little bit of luck with the second goal from Abbo (Paul Abbott).

“He’s launched it, god knows how high in the air, and just come in behind the keeper but we’re well satisfied.

“We’ve got a goal in, two-one away from home, we’ll take that any day.”

Trott was delighted that Abbott did a fine job after coming into the side for the injured Hockton.

He joked: “It was lucky I put him in hey!”. He added: “Maybe a bit of luck more than judgement.

“Abbo’s done well. Danny’s a great goalscorer but the way we’re playing at the moment we are scoring goals from everywhere.”

Trott is pleased with his table-topping side as they look forward to welcoming 12^th placed side Staines Town to Hartsdown Park on Tuesday night before welcoming sixth from bottom side Carshalton Athletic next Saturday.

He said: “The boys are very comfortable with each other. They want to work for each other.

“We’ve got a good set-up down here. They boys are very close. They’re like a family so if we can keep that going, we’ve got five wins in a row now in the league, we can’t stop here we’ve got to keep it going.”

But Trott is confident that his “family” will clinch promotion back into the Nationwide Conference South.

He said: “Like I say, we know our own ability and we’re not up there for no reason.

“We are a great team, I’ve said from the start, we’ve got the best team in the league by far.

“The only people who will let ourselves down are ourselves so we can’t take a step back.

“We can’t get overawed about it. We’ve got to take each game as it comes and it’s onto Staines now.”

When asked if Margate will go on and win the league title, Trott replied: “Well, I wouldn’t take the job if I didn’t want to win the league, so yes, I want to win the league.”

James Pinnock, who rejoined Margate during the close season after signing from Nationwide Conference South outfit Welling United, admitted he doesn’t mind partnering Hockton or Saunders up front.

And he was delighted that Margate bagged three points in difficult conditions.

“We’ve got the three points, which is the main thing,” he said. “It was a hard game, I was treading water a bit second half.

“I think we’ve done well to get the three points because it came to a point second half when they were on top but we held out for the win.

“We played to our strengths. We’ve got good players in the team who can pass the ball and when we get the ball out wide (we) create chances, crosses.”

Speaking about Hockton and Saunders, Pinnock added: “They’re not too dissimilar to be honest - Jay’s so good in the air.

“Obviously I’m the second striker so as long as I’ve got another striker whose sort of strong in the air and I can play off them and gamble on things trying to get in, but Jay and Danny are both good players in their own right.”

“I enjoy playing with Danny, I think he’s a great goalscorer and I’m perhaps a different player to him.

“That’s why we work well together. I hopefully complement his game and I play off him well.”

And the Dartford born striker, 28, also feels that the championship will be heading to Hartsdown Park in April.

“We’re buzzing at the minute,” he said. “I think that’s our fifth win so we’re obviously on fire at the minute.

“I was in the Conference South last year and I think we can hold our own in that league no problems at all - that’s what we’re aiming for.”

Hockton is expected to be missing from Margate's line-up again against Staines Town on Tuesday night.

The Swans' home game with Hendon yesterday fell victim to a waterlogged pitch at Wheatsheaf Park.

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com

Margate v Staines Town
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 28^th November 2006
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ