Manager Mark Stimson hopes out-of-form Margate’s luck is about to change - with Gate appealing Ben Greenhalgh’s red card after he was sent off in their 3-2 Isthmian Premier loss at Whitehawk

Boss Mark Stimson hopes out-of-form Margate’s luck is about to change - with the club set to appeal Ben Greenhalgh’s red card.

Key playmaker Greenhalgh was controversially dismissed during their 3-2 Isthmian Premier loss at Whitehawk last weekend, ruled to have kicked out at a home player after a collision.

He was red-carded in the 78th minute after two-goal Steve Cawley had helped Gate recover from 2-0 down after 15 minutes, moving to 15 goals for the season.

They nearly held on for a draw - only for a last-minute own goal by goalkeeper Harry Seaden.

Stimson, who has reviewed footage of the incident, said: “At the time, it didn’t look like a red card. Knowing him, that’s not Ben.

“When the referee said ‘violent conduct’, I said ‘Really?!’.

“We have decided to appeal against it. Hopefully, by the middle of the week, we will know what the outcome is.

“Our luck is not in at the moment. Fingers crossed, it starts to change.”

Stimson was also confused why captain Sam Blackman remained unavailable for the Whitehawk match.

With defender Tyrone Sterling sent off in an abandoned Boxing Day game at Cray Wanderers due to a stoppage-time injury, the 0-0 scoreline standing as the result, he served a one-match ban at the weekend. But Margate’s trip to Hayes Lane did not count as one of midfielder Blackman’s two games in his suspension.

“Our captain, Sam, had a two-game suspension,” explained Stimson. “We’re waiting for the FA to get back to us about that. He ended up missing Saturday as well.

“We had a game and it was registered as a 0-0 draw. The player sent off in that game (Sterling) served his suspension on Saturday but Sam’s (match towards his ban) doesn’t count.

“Nothing will change, it’s just a case of ‘Can you show us that