Trott tells boo-boys: Look at the bigger picture!

Despite creating and missing numerous chances in a game that they dominated, Margate crashed to a 1-0 defeat in the Thanet derby, as Ramsgate climbed up two spots into fifth place in the Ryman Premier League table - occupying the last play-off berth.

Ramsgate full-back Ashley Burton scored his first goal of the season early in the second half to dent Margate’s play-off hopes, leaving them six points adrift in tenth place.

And losing to their local rivals was too much for the Margate faithful to make, shouting that they want the player-manager out, before the team vacated the pitch.

Trott speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards said: “The expectancy is massive down Margate, which is understandable, I understand that. I wouldn’t have taken the job otherwise.

“But I think there’s massive, massive positives from today. The result that didn’t go our way was Saturday (a 3-3 home draw against Wealdstone), where I subbed myself because I’ve got a fractured rib.

“Maybe we would have won the game (against Wealdstone) quite easily but we shot ourselves in the foot.

“But I think we have made strides this year pushing, pushing forward and in the backroom staff as well with the managers and everyone below us with the youth team section, we’re really trying to iron it out.

“It won’t happen overnight and if people knew what’s happening then they’ll understand but I’m happy with the way things are going.”

Speaking about the fans that wanted out at the final whistle, Trott understands their frustrations.

“You’re going to get it, they’re not kids, they’re early 20s or whatever but yes, it’s fine,” said Trott.

“If they knew the bigger picture, they’d be fine (with) what we’re trying to do (with) the youth section behind the club, with the problems that we’ve had this year and the way we’re trying to push forward for next year.”

Reflecting on their 13^th league defeat of the season, Trott felt his side should have won.

“It was frustrating, definitely thought we were the better of the two teams,” admitted Trott.

“Totally dominated play, we just couldn’t bag. I’ve had three headers I should have put one of them away.

“But a big game, a big day for the club, big day for everyone and they’ve pipped us at the post and just beat us with a good goal, it was a good goal.

“But it is upsetting, we are gutted! The boys are gutted because we played well. We totally, totally dominated the game possession wise, but if you’re not going to score those chances you’re always going to leave yourselves open.

“What they’re good at is trying to shut up shop and even though we sort of opened them up we just couldn’t score.

“He’s (Ramsgate manager Jim Ward) got them organised and that’s what they do best. The pitch was nice down here to be fair so we could play, which is something we didn’t think was going to happen.

“But there’s still (five) games left, whether we’re going to make the play-off’s or not, I don’t know!”

Those games are against Harlow Town (home), Heybridge Swifts (home), already relegated Leyton (away), Folkestone Invicta (home) and Harrow Borough (away).

And Trott said: “We’ve got to win them all, we’ve got to win them all in every league haven’t you?”

Today’s defeat means Margate have a mountain to climb to join the scramble for the play-off’s as Kent rivals Ramsgate and Tonbridge Angels are much better placed than they are.

“It’s very important, Saturday was massive, today was massive as well, put more pressure onto today so it’s just put onto for next Saturday’s (home game against Harlow Town),” said Trott.

“But we’re not going to go down, we’re still trying to make the play-off’s. I think you’ve got to be positive in life and that’s what we try and preach in the club, that’s what we believe will happen in the end.

“I always said it will go to the end of the season, the play-off’s. It looks as Chelmsford have got the league wrapped up, very good achievement to do that in such a horrible league this year.

“But as I say if you ask any board of directors, any fans’, they all think their team should have achieved more and I’m just one of those teams in a mixture of about twelve.”

But Trott knows his side’s defensive frailties have been a problem this season and wants to sign a defender to play in his place.

“We’ve had a problem all year with defence,” he said. “I tried to put Jay Saunders there and it lost us in the middle (of the park).

“I’ve had to play myself when the plan was I weren’t going to play, only if needed.

“But it’s turned out more than half a season (that) I’ve played, but we haven’t got any problems scoring goals.

“Today we should have scored loads but we didn’t. On another day we would have bagged three, four, five easily, but problems have been at the back.”

Ahead of their last five league games, Margate welcome FA Trophy finalists Ebbsfleet United in a hastily arranged Kent Senior Cup semi-final at Hartsdown Park on Wednesday night.

This game was arranged late on Good Friday but Trott revealed that he’s going to leave his star players out.

He said: “We’re going to field players that haven’t been playing of late, but it’s a Cup, it’s a Cup we want to win.

“It’s been a long season, we’ve had a lot of ups and downs.

“They’re are not going to field a massively strong side and they’ll still give us a game. Any Ebbsfleet team that comes to Margate is going to be decent.

“They’re going to be well organised and hopefully we’re not going to muck about, we want to win it, we want to beat them so the boys we put out we feel are good enough for the job and it will be a great chance for them as well.”

Steve McKimm missed today’s derby defeat as his wife was about to give birth, according to the club’s secretary.

Visit Margate’s website:  www.margate-fc.com

Margate v Ebbsfleet United
Kent Senior Cup Semi-Final
Wednesday 26^th March 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ