We are confident as a group that we’re good enough to be up there challenging and we are seeing this through recent performances, says Margate assistant Mike Sandmann

MARGATE assistant manager Mike Sandmann says his players must maintain their current standards.

 

Manager Steven Watt has guided the club to seventh-place in the Bostik Premier table with 30 points from 17 games, four points adrift of the play-off zone.

Margate welcome Egham Town to Hartsdown Park in a delayed FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round tie tomorrow.

Egham Town – in 12^th place in the Evo-Stik South East Division – were reinstated after Bowers & Pitsea lost their appeal after being removed from the competition for fielding a player under suspension in the previous round.

The winners will have to travel to Vanarama National League South side Bath City next Tuesday night.

“It’s been a frustrating time with regards to our FA Trophy fixture but it has been out of our control and something we just have to get on with,” said Sandmann.

“We know they will come with nothing to lose after getting a reprieve and we will need to make sure we continue our good form into this game.

“Regardless of League positions and levels we will have to match the standards that we have been recently setting.

“The prospect of going to Bath on a Tuesday night is not ideal for any group but our thoughts won’t turn to that until we have got the right result tomorrow.”

Margate go into the game on a good run of form, coming away from Tooting & Mitcham United with a 3-1 win on Tuesday night.

“We have been on a good run of form, unbeaten in eight games with four back-to-back wins,” said Sandmann.

“We have always believed in the group. We have come through a bad patch and we have turned the corner once again.  Clean sheets have been massive for us this season, 11 in all competitions is something we are extremely proud of as a group.

“We have put ourselves in a good League position with games in hand that could take us into the play-offs. We are confident as a group that we’re good enough to be up there challenging and we are seeing this through recent performances.

“We have a lot of games coming up quickly and if we continue performing and being difficult to beat we are confident we can continue getting results.”

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

Margate  v  Egham Town
The Buildbase FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 25^th November 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ