Player-boss Ben Greenhalgh doesn’t expect to add significantly to promotion-chasing Margate’s squad ahead of the non-league registration deadline.

The fourth-placed Isthmian South East side are on course for a shot at earning an Isthmian Premier return at the first attempt through the play-offs.

While Greenhalgh didn’t completely rule out bolstering his ranks with more senior players for the season run-in, with the deadline tomorrow evening, he’s more than happy with what he has got.

He said: “You always have to keep your eye out in this game.

“We’ve got a list of players we want to talk to in the summer. But they’re not available and they’re probably quite happy at the clubs where they’re at.

“I’ve got no intention to sign anyone before Thursday, apart from maybe some young players who might get a chance before the end of this season.”

Indeed, Greenhalgh, No.2 Adam Flanagan and coach Elliot Leveson already have enough selection dilemmas.

Two-goal Gate man makes team-of-the-week

The manager said: “We have always been quite a tight-knit squad.

“Sometimes, the squad has pretty much picked itself but, now, we have needed to leave players out. That’s a headache.

“Sometimes, we have got it wrong but, if people get left out, I just want to see them keep working hard.

“The main positive is we have those options, and we have got different systems and playing styles that we can play.”

Gate secured a second victory in a row after this month’s 1-1 home draw against Broadbridge Heath as they saw off basement boys Steyning Town Community 3-1 through two-goal TT Walters and forward Tom Derry’s second-half strike last weekend.

“It was a good performance,” reflected Greenhalgh.

“I think that was the most important thing, just to keep the momentum going. That’s two wins on the spin.

“We didn’t quite do it all in the first half, but we did a lot of the hard work, which was really good.”

The impact of 25-year-old wideman Walters, who started the season with Margate’s fierce rivals Ramsgate before a stint at Hythe, has already certainly been felt.

Greenhalgh noted: “One thing I think we have tried to do is to not sign a lot of players.

“Having looked at it, we are quite low in terms of the number of players that have played for us in the season, compared to the rest of the division.

“That’s why we maybe take a bit longer than others to make signings - because we want to make sure they are the right ones. But pretty much all our signings, they have made a positive impact.

“With TT, I think we timed it well. He went to Hythe to play regular football and then was looking for his next venture.

“We don’t expect him to score two goals in every game! But we do expect plenty of contributions from our wingers, and TT has come in and he’s offered a lot already.”

Walters netted twice in the first period before Derry, 30, claimed his first goal for the club in the 54th minute to leave a late effort by home substitute Ethan Roberts a mere consolation.

“With centre-forwards, it’s so difficult to give them time, especially when they’re the calibre of Tom Derry,” said Greenhalgh.

“One thing that works well with Tom is I’ve tried to sign him and Margate has tried to sign him before so we know what we’re getting from him.

“In every game, he has got better. It’s tough for a No.9 to come in and be told ‘Look, just score a load of goals for us.’.

“Ibzs (17-goal top scorer Ibrahim Olutade) has been our proven goalscorer. But we put Tom up top on his own on Saturday.

“What we’re looking for is all our No.9s - including Tom - to be firing at the right time but, also, to give us different options.”

Gate will return to home action against relegation-threatened Hythe on Saturday, having come from behind twice to beat them 3-2 at Reachfields in January.

“When we played Hythe away, it was a difficult game,” admitted Greenhalgh.

“I would have liked a more dominant performance, but you can’t always get that.

“We just want to build on the home performance we put in two weeks ago against Littlehampton [in a 4-1 win] and we’re really looking forward to being back at Hartsdown Park again.”