We want to repay the support we receive by winning football matches, says Margate joint-manager Mike Sandmann

MARGATE joint-manager Mike Sandmann says he wants his side to start climbing the Bostik Premier Division table.

Margate’s game at league leaders Lewes on Saturday was abandoned after 26 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch at The Dripping Pan and the game has been re-arranged for Wednesday, 23 January 2019.

“We were disappointed with the game being called off, especially as we started the game well and had a good chance cleared off the line,” said Sandmann.

“In all fairness, it was the correct decision by the referee but we felt for the supporters that made the long journey for that to happen.”

Margate have slipped down to fifteenth-place in the table with 26 points from 19 games but they will climb six places into ninth should they beat AFC Hornchurch at Hartsdown Park on Tuesday night.

The Essex side are in the bottom four with 19 points from as many games, level on points with Harlow Town, who are inside the relegation zone along with Sussex pair Burgess Hill Town and Whitehawk.  The Hawks visit the Kent coast at the weekend.

Sandmann, whose side were held to a 2-2 home draw by Wingate & Finchley the last time they were at home, said: “We have back-to-back home games now and we would like to start winning at home. It’s as simple as that!

“Our last performance at home was a lot better and we didn’t deserve to concede at the death to drop two points.

“This season everyone is beating everyone and we will need to be more consistent in our results and hopefully we can start that on Tuesday.

“A couple of wins can put us back up there around the play-off positions and we believe we are now starting to strengthen and improve as a group.

“We have brought in three new faces in (goalkeeper) Louis Wells, (central-midfielder) Connor Dymond and (winger) Dave Martin, which will improve us and we want to repay the support we receive by winning football matches.”

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.co.uk

Margate  v  AFC Hornchurch
Bostik Premier Division
Tuesday 18 December 2018
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ