We are all looking forward to Dulwich on Saturday, especially off the back of two good results, says Margate assistant Mike Sandmann

MARGATE assistant manager Mike Sandmann says he is looking forward to the visit of league leaders Dulwich Hamlet to Hartsdown Park tomorrow.

Gavin Rose’s side travel down to the Kent coast sitting at the top of the Bostik Premier Division table with 62 points from 27 games. 

Big-spenders Billericay Town are in second-place on 57 points but the loud Essex outfit do have five games in hand.

Margate are in the top eight with 41 points from their 25 games and are six points adrift of Hendon, who occupy the final play-off berth.

“We are all looking forward to Dulwich on Saturday, especially off the back of two good results,” said Sandmann, who is Steven Watt’s assistant.

“Dulwich are a very good team and Gavin and Junior Kadi do a fantastic job year on year to always have them up there challenging. They currently sit top of the league and it’s always good to see where we are as a team against the top teams.”

Margate claimed a morale boosting point in a 1-1 draw in a mud bath at Billericay Town last Saturday, before returning home to beat Needham Market 3-1 on the plastic pitch at Hartsdown Park.

“The point away to Billericay showed that as a group we are capable of being up and around the top teams but need to make sure we are consistent in our performances,” said Sandmann.

“On Tuesday we played some really good stuff at times and deserve the three points. We looked a little tired in stages but credit to the forward players for the goals and chances we created.

“We know how Dulwich try to play in a certain way with some really good players in their group, we have spoken about this with the players as we do every team we play. We will prepare the same knowing the threats they will pose us.

“We believe if we get our set up right we will look to be tough to break down and allow our forward players to cause them problems.

“As a group we need to start closing the gap on the teams in the play offs and Saturday is a massive opportunity to do this.  We are all looking forward to the game.”

Visit Margate’s website:  www.margate-fc.co.uk

Margate  v  Dulwich Hamlet
Bostik Premier Division
Saturday 13 January 2018
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ