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Margate boss Andy Drury intends to strengthen depleted squad despite three wins in seven days

Manager Andy Drury is pleased with how things are going at Margate - but intends to strengthen his depleted squad.

A late winner from Harry Hudson on Saturday saw Gate win 2-1 at Wingate & Finchley in Isthmian Premier - their third victory in seven days in all competitions, having earned a 1-0 success last Tuesday at Chichester through midfielder Montrell Deslandes’ effort after beating Bognor 2-0 the previous weekend.

Ex-Tonbridge defender Harry Hudson netted twice for Margate in their weekend win at Wingate & Finchley. Picture: David Couldridge
Ex-Tonbridge defender Harry Hudson netted twice for Margate in their weekend win at Wingate & Finchley. Picture: David Couldridge

“We are in a nice place at the moment,” said Drury, whose side are mid-table in 13th.

“We have won three in a row and can now look to kick on, but I’m looking to add one or two over the next week or so to strengthen us going forward.”

Against Wingate, Darnell Wynter gave the hosts the lead before centre-back Hudson equalised and then netted a second from a Ben Greenhalgh corner in the 94th minute.

Drury reflected: “We were up against it for numbers on Saturday.

“Ashley Nzala dropped out [after being recalled by parent club Dulwich] and James Bessey-Saldanha got injured. All credit to the boys, I think we had seven defenders on the pitch, second half!

“The team spirit got us the three points. For the last 60 minutes, we had Ben Greenhalgh up front and the two wingers were full-backs as well.”

Striker Korrey Henry (groin) and winger Troy Howard (ankle) were also out, while defender Harrison Hatfull has this week gone on trial with a National League outfit, and Drury admits a break this weekend comes at a good time.

Their three-match winning run comes after a three-game losing streak.

But Margate’s manager, whose team tonight are due to face Sheppey in the Kent Senior Cup at Hartsdown Park and host Folkestone next Tuesday in the Velocity Cup, said: “Even when we were losing games, we played really well.

“We lost 5-2 against Enfield and that was probably one of our best performances for around 55 minutes. Against Hornchurch, we were probably the better team [eventually losing 3-1] so I always put that positive spin on it.

“We just have a fairly young team and, when you come up against those more experienced teams, they managed games better than us. But with where we are now, we know we are in a good place.”

Joining Margate is versatile midfielder Emmanuel Oke who came on against Wingate and Chichester.

“Emmanuel has been training with us for a good two or three weeks now. We have just registered him,” Drury said.

“He has just come in for the time being and we will have a look at him. He’s a big lad and a big presence.”

Winger Eddie Dsane has left the club.

Margate under-23s have been drawn at home to Sittingbourne Reserves in the Second Round of the Kent Intermediate Cup.

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