After a week in which Margate manager, Ben Greenhalgh, had found BBC press coverage with his account of life in the non-league, after playing for Inter Milan as a youngster, I decided to follow “the Gate” down to Steyning Town’s, The Shooting Field, for their Isthmian League South East Division match. The weather, although not as warm as it had been in the week, was, at 15 degrees, far warmer than it had been last weekend.

The Shooting Field was redeveloped in 2016, benefiting from a new 3G pitch and a refurbished clubhouse. The ground also boasts two grandstand and refreshment and club shop facilities, with attendances reaching as high as the 287 who attended Steyning Town’s recent fixture against Burgess Hill Town.

Steyning Town have had a tough season to date, since gaining promotion from the Southern Combination Football League last season. The Barrowmen, as the home side are known, sat bottom of the league, with just five wins from their 35 matches, at kick off, some eleven points off Littlehampton Town who occupied the last non-relegation place. Manager Gerry Murphy would have been looking to the goals of Jack Barnes (7 goals), Harvey Killick and Alfie Rogers (both 5 goals), to fire his side into an unlikely win against their promotion chasing opponents.

Margate in contrast, came into today’s fixture securely in the play off places, sitting fourth with twenty wins, ten draws and seventy points, from their 35 matches. Ben Greenhalgh’s side have scored at a rate of almost two goals a game, with Ibrahim Olutade, (22 goals), Ben Greenhalgh (15 goals) and Louie Atkins (9 goals) leading the way, as Margate try to reclaim their place in the Isthmian Premier League at the first attempt, after their relegation in 2023-24. Margate’s shirt sponsors are local band, the Libertines.

Margate came out fighting from the kick off, which the home team found hard to handle. A jinky break and run by Tushaun Walters ended with a neat finish and a 0-1 lead on 7 minutes.

Steyning Town fought hard to stay in the game and with six minutes left in the half, they went close to scoring themselves, from a well struck free kick, taken by Alex Brewer.

Then, with the half time whistle approaching, Tushaun Aalters broke free again and finished skilfully for his double, giving Margate a 2-0 lead at the break.

Tom Derry headed in from close range to put Margate 0-3 ahead, just seven minutes into the second half. Steyning Town heads visibly fell a little in the minutes just after this.

With ten minutes to play, the Margate FC keeper missed a clearance, leaving the way clear to goal for Steyning Town’s Ethan Roberts to score to make it 1-3.

At fulltime it was Margate FC who took the three points in front of the crowd of 210, in their push for the play-offs. Steyning Town look set for relegation unless they can somehow find some defensive stability.