Assistant manager Matt Longhurst on Margate’s top-seven credentials and a dream debut Elliott Duncan in 3-1 victory at AFC Croydon

Margate put their top-seven credentials to the test against fellow high-fliers Hastings tonight.

Gate climbed to fourth in Isthmian South East with a 3-1 win at AFC Croydon at the weekend, thanks to debutant Elliott Duncan’s double and a late Bradley Schafer strike.

They’re looking for a third successive win this evening (7.45pm) when they take on second-placed Hastings at Hartsdown Park.

The U’s, managed by former Folkestone midfielder Ronnie Dolan, pose a different threat to Croydon, and Margate assistant manager Matt Longhurst is interested to see how they handle it.

“Hastings have started unbelievably well,” said Longhurst.

“But if you look at their staff, Ronnie Dolan, Trevor McCreadie and Sam Adams, they’ve all played non-league football at a good level and they’re all winners, so it’s no real surprise that they’re competitive.

“The way they play is quite robust, and they’ve got people like Mitch Chapman and Max Walsh, who are experienced, and the keeper’s distribution is unbelievable.

“We had a certain test at Croydon, which we came through, and this will be a different type of test.

“But we’ve built the team around being able to do both, playing against teams that try and play, and nullifying that, and then playing against the more physical teams, and nullifying that.

“It will be really interesting to see how we fare because if we come through with another positive result, that will give us a lot of confidence as a group for the remainder of the month.”

Longhurst believes Margate are a top-seven team when all their players are available.

He feels a busy October, packed with midweek action, is an important month to show what they can do.

They’ve started well, with two wins out of two.

Longhurst said: “Individually