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Margate skipper Liam Friend says reaching the Bostik Premier play-offs has to be the club's minimum aim

Skipper Liam Friend says Margate have set the benchmark with their victory over previously unbeaten Enfield on Saturday.

The Gate's 2-1 win was their first in the Bostik Premier at Hartsdown Park since beating Corinthian Casuals 5-2 on the season's opening day in August.

They hadn't so much as scored a goal during that four-game run but centre-half Friend says beating Enfield has now set the standard for the remainder of the campaign.

Margate's Liam Friend Picture: Don Walker
Margate's Liam Friend Picture: Don Walker

He said: "I think we needed that, we haven't been particularly great at home and we've had a couple of home games on the bounce on Saturdays.

"It was pleasing that we got the three points. It's put us up a couple of places but as I said we needed it. Enfield are a really good side, I can see why they were unbeaten, they're a good, solid side with good players in different positions so it's a good win but that's where we should be.

"These should be our wins, we shouldn't be thinking that's an unusual win, this should be the marker we're setting down and hopefully we're going to continue to do that."

Margate have taken just seven of their 17 points at Hartsdown but Friend feels their modest home form has masked how well they have started the season.

He explained: "Last season we started the season with a lot of draws, I think this year we've got more points than we had this time last year but it just seems a bit more negative because we've lost the odd one here.

"The Enfield result shows you how three points changes it because without the win it's seven points from 15 and you're up against it."

Friend says his sights are set firmly on the play-offs and for the Blues to aim any lower would be selling themselves short.

He added: "The play-offs, I think that's where we've got to be aiming with the players we've got in the changing room.

"For us to be aiming anywhere else would be setting our sights too low but you've got to wait for the league to settle down.

"The first few games of the season some teams they'll have a bigger budget because they're trying to get as far as they can in the FA Cup, other teams cut their budgets so this time of year is always a bit hit and miss.

"Players are fighting for positions, clubs often have bigger squads but we're in a good place, we're sixth which is around where we want to be and hopefully over the next few weeks we can push on and nail down that play-off position."

Margate travel to Bognor Regis Town on Saturday.

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