Greenhalgh Praises 'Gate Morale

Margate Midfielder Ben Greenhalgh believes Margate’s “poor” performance at home to Thame in the Emirates FA Cup has been the catalyst to Margate’s incredible scoring form over the past week.

The ‘Gate scored four times in two consecutive games within four days of each other as they successfully ended Thame’s Emirates FA Cup run before defeating Leatherhead 4-2 on Saturday to move up to 3rd in the Isthmian Premier Division table.

“We went through a period at the start of the season where we created chances but didn’t score as much as we wanted and wasn’t as clinical as we have been this week”.

“Maybe it took a bit of a poor performance at home to Thame to get us in that frame of mind of getting in the right places and taking our chances”.

Greenhalgh was pleased with the performance on Saturday but says there are still areas where the ‘Gate can improve.

“We have to get back in the other frame of mind now where we keep clean sheets. It is hard because the positive thing is we are getting the wins but we are quite critical on each other but we all recognise there is much more we can improve on”.

Margate maintained their uneaten start to the season on Saturday and Greenhalgh believes the dressing room atmosphere is having a huge role to play in that,

“There is a really good atmosphere in the dressing room. You look at the bench today and there is so much talent waiting to come on so as a player you are looking over your shoulder thinking if I don’t perform then someone else will come in and take my place”.

“There are no bad eggs in the dressing room when they are not playing and everybody is up for it and joining in so at the moment if we can keep that attitude up and keep winning then we are in a very good place”.

Greenhalgh took over the clubs Instagram ahead of the build up to Saturday’s game and asked followers to choose which boots he wore during the game and it worked a treat with the Midfielder eventually being awarded Margate’s third goal of the afternoon.

“The delivery was definitely a cross I can’t deny that but from my view it was on target so their centre half might have flicked it on but rules are rules and if it’s on target originally which it was then it is my goal”.

Attention now turns to Tuesday evening as Margate continue their league campaign away to Hornchurch and Greenhalgh recognises it will be one of the ‘Gate’s toughest games yet.

“In my head the game at Hornchurch and at home to Carshalton are probably going to be the two toughest games we are going to have already. I know they are on a bad run at the minute but they always have good players and good quality especially after winning the FA Trophy so they are going to be a good outfit but we are going to work hard and put in a solid performance and hopefully we can earn another three points.

Ben Greenhalgh is kindly sponsored by Kevin Southall (Home) and Sarah Egan (Away) for the 2021/22 season.

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