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Margate manager Nikki Bull says his depleted squad really stepped up to the plate in their FA Cup replay win at Hastings

Nikki Bull praised his depleted side for coming through their dramatic FA Cup replay at Hastings but says the job remains only half done.

Elliott Buchanan's 115th minute winner in Tuesday's 2-1 come-from-behind triumph took the Gate through to a fourth qualifying round tie at Ryman League side Harrow Borough on Saturday.

Win that and the cash-strapped Blues will be into Monday's draw for the first round proper with the chance of landing a potentially lucrative tie against one of the Football League's bigger sides.

Chris Sessegnon Picture: Don Walker
Chris Sessegnon Picture: Don Walker

Boss Bull, who again only had 14 fit players including himself, explained: "We've just won two games in four days and come from behind in both, which just shows what this group's about. Every injured player travelled to Hastings and that shows the spirit there is within the dressing room.

"We saw last year that as soon as adversity knocked on the door we lost 10 in a row and we looked a club in absolute turmoil, but the boys knew we needed to win on Tuesday and they really stepped up to the plate.

"They gave me everything for 120 minutes, they knew we needed to be at Harrow and we are. I said these were two massive games (Hastings and Harrow) and now we need to finish it off on Saturday."

Bull said he was hugely impressed with the way his players dug in after going behind at Pilot Field, particularly during the latter stages when several were carrying injuries.

Defenders Aaron Tunwa (hamstring), Chris Sessegnon (groin/hamstring) and Manny Parry all stayed on despite niggles - Parry having slid into an advertising hoarding against Hemel Hempstead on Saturday - while Bull admitted the decision to start Brett Johnson was a calculated risk.

The experienced defender was back in the side after a hamstring problem but had to be replaced at half-time by Yado Mambo.

Bull explained: "I spoke to Brett on the way to the game and and he said he was 60 to 70 per cent fit. He was always going to have the first half because we wanted to make sure we started the game well.

"Brett is an experienced player who manages himself well and after 40 minutes he signalled that he was done. We'll probably lose him for a couple of weeks but that's a price we were willing to play."

Bull praised the performance of substitute Mambo, who, he said was 'exceptional,' and he also hailed the part played by the Gate fans on the night.

He added: "I know it sounds cheesy but without those fans behind the goal I don't think we would have won. You could see the players were running on fumes, but the support was constant and I know the boys appreciated it."

For the trip to Harrow defender Danny Fitzsimons returns after being cup tied for the Hastings replay, while Bull also hopes striker Marcel Barrington will be available having been on international duty with Guyana this week.

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