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Margate manager Jay Saunders tells players to focus on stringing run of results together

Boss Jay Saunders has told his Margate players to ignore the Isthmian League Premier Division table and focus on stringing a run of victories together.

Saunder’s side are sat in the middle of the table in 12th place, having collected four points from their last two league fixtures, as well as progressing in the Velocity Trophy.

Margate's Ben Swift scored his side's first goal in their 4-2 win over Haringey on Saturday
Margate's Ben Swift scored his side's first goal in their 4-2 win over Haringey on Saturday

“In this league, if you put a run of results together, you never know where it’s going to take you,” said Saunders.

“It’s that sort of league.

"But we have not kept enough clean sheets this season, that has been our issue.

“I’ve said to the boys ‘Let’s not look at the play-offs’.

“Let’s just get a run of wins – whether they come in the league or the Velocity Trophy – and see where that takes us.

“We are where we are.

“But if we put a run of results together, you never know where it can take you.”

Margate manager Jay Saunders. Picture: Andy Jones
Margate manager Jay Saunders. Picture: Andy Jones

On Saturday, Gate earned a 4-2 home success over Haringey.

Goals from captain Ben Swift, Kadell Daniel and Elliott Reeves gave Margate a 3-0 half-time advantage.

The visitors fought back after the restart, with Cyprus international Athos Solomou and Roman Michael-Percil on target for them.

But Kieran Monlouis sealed the Margate win with a late fourth.

Saunders said: “I think, of late, we have played some good stuff and maybe not got the results we should have.

“I thought, in the first half especially against Bishop's Stortford, we were very, very good and we played well on Saturday, as well.

“We took our chances, were 3-0 up at half-time and, at that point, it looked like game over.

"They came back in the second half.

"But I thought, overall, that we deserved the three points, to be honest.”

Saunders says he will speak to the board after tonight’s match against Enfield to see if he can bolster his squad, with frontman Jack Richards (groin) set to be sidelined for six weeks.

He admitted: “I feel for Jack.

“I gave him his debut at Maidstone and he has bags of potential but, for whatever reason, it didn’t work out for him there.

"I brought him in and hoped to get him to play 35 or 40 games this season, but he has had a couple of (injury) problems and has now got another injury.

"But he is someone I have a lot of faith in.

"Hopefully, he will be back sooner rather than later."

Defender Dan Johnson missed Gate’s game against Haringey at the weekend due to a personal issue but is expected to be available for their match against Enfield.

Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent

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