Essuman Enjoying Eventful Second Spell

It’s been an eventful start to Dover defender George Essuman’s second loan spell with Margate. A handful of impressive displays have merited much praise for the youngster who has stepped back into the fold with seeming ease.

And Essuman is enjoying every minute back at Hartsdown Park.

“It’s been really good to be here. The boys have welcomed me back with open arms and it’s been great to get a run of games and be playing.”

The 20 year old has been thrown into a promotion push and is relishing the opportunity to take on some of the League’s toughest sides as The Gate look to secure a play-off place.

“When we are in position we are in to push on to a higher league, it’s good experience for me to play the best players in the League. Before the Folkestone game, the commentator pointed out their attacking front three and I was happy to play well and help keep them quiet.”

Reflecting on Saturday afternoon’s 4-2 victory, Essuman was pleased he and his team-mates could atone for a flat opening 45 minutes.

“We were slow out of the blocks and were contesting with the wind but we should have dealt with it better. When it was half time, the Gaffer said we had to stop starting games so slowly but second half we turned it around and showed what we were capable of.”

“Browny said it as well and he really hammered into us at half time but it worked and we came away with the victory.”

With the blend of experience in the team, Essuman believes Margate have shown another side of their game and the unity within the squad to turn a two goal deficit around.

“Two nil down within half an hour was quite hard to come back from but it shows how resilient the squad is and our never say die attitude. We have experienced players around us to help keep our heads up in that situation and push on.”

“We had to go back to basics, so when we were winning 4-2 we just had to stand our ground and defend properly and the team did that and dug in. Aaron Simpson did really well against their winger and everyone put in a shift to turn it around.”

With a number of suspensions and injuries ravaging the Margate backline, there’s more options for Manager Steve Watt in the treatment room than his substitute’s bench. 

It means some chopping and changing for Essuman but it’s something the young loanee takes in his stride.

“You learn something different every time you play with a different partner. As a defender, I do think it is important to play with the same back four as much as possible, as you begin to know each other’s game and become familiar with each other. That said, with the suspensions and injuries we’ve had, you just have to adjust and get on with it.”

Speaking of his own dismissal against Harlow, Essuman said:

“I’m very frustrated. The first yellow, I could have just kept my mouth shut but for the second, I’m just doing what I always do and that’s going up for my headers. The referee saw otherwise, so it’s one I just have to take on the chin and move on.”

Essuman will be available for Tuesday night’s game against Kingstonian as The Gate look to record another positive result.

“It’s a big relief for us to get the three points. Going into Tuesday we have our heads held high and want to start the game properly which is something the Gaffer has focused on. So, we will look to start brightly and take it from there.”

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