Despite our current league position, we believe we can still climb the table and put a run of good results together, says Margate joint-manager Mike Sandmann

MARGATE joint-manager Mike Sandmann says he is searching for improvement during the second half of the season.

 

The club extended their winless run to five games in all competitions after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Worthing at Hartsdown Park in their last game on Saturday 5 January 2019.

Sandmann and Steve Brown’s men are in sixteenth-place in the Bostik Premier Division table with 28 points from 23 games and are only four points clear of the relegation zone, which is occupied by Wingate & Finchley, Harlow Town and Whitehawk.

Margate travel to league leaders Haringey Borough tomorrow, a side that are five points clear of Dorking Wanderers.

“We start a run of six very tough matches in which we play the top three teams in the league,” said Sandmann.

“This season has seen already that everyone is callable of beating everyone and we will be needing to improve on our first half of the season.

“With no match for two weeks, it’s been a blessing in disguise enabling us to get players back from injury and we are really pleased that James Rogers has come through three training sessions since his operation and injury back in September.

“Alex Flisher will return from injury and we have also been able to retain Dave Martin on loan until the end of the season and bring in attacking players Bradley Stevenson and Joseph Hungbo on loan (from Gillingham and Crystal Palace respectively).

Margate have conceded 28 league goals this season but have scored 25 and Sandmann hopes their new arrivals will change matters.

“We have the third best defensive record in the league, which is credit to the team as a whole but we must improve at the other end and hopefully bringing these players in will add to that,” said Sandmann, who watched Haringey’s 2-1 defeat at Harlow Town alongside Brown.

“Haringey will be very tough.  We went to watch them last Saturday and will be looking to go there with the belief that we can get something out of the game.

“Despite our current league position, we believe we can still climb the table and put a run of good results together.  Nothing is won or lost in January but we must improve during the second half of the season.”

Margate have secured the freehold on their Hartsdown Park stadium and Sandmann added,” The club are in a fantastic position off-the-pitch with the recent news.  This will give the club long-term stability, which everyone behind the scenes has been working towards.”

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

Haringey Borough  v  Margate
Bostik Premier Division
Saturday 19 January 2019
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Coles Park, White Hart Lane, London N17 7JP