Margate manager Ben Greenhalgh explains why it would have been naive to start talking about winning Isthmian South East this season

Player-boss Ben Greenhalgh says he couldn’t have asked for more this season as Margate go into their final match before Christmas.

Gate climbed to third in Isthmian South East with a 2-1 win at Littlehampton on Saturday.

Ibrahim Olutade scored a penalty and Louie Atkins made it two before the hosts scored a late consolation.

Margate are over-achieving on their pre-season points target, showing what a good fist they’ve made of transforming the club’s fortunes following relegation.

They’re 12 points behind leaders Ramsgate and 10 off second-placed Sittingbourne but 42 points from 19 games is an excellent total by anyone’s standards.

“In terms of how the start’s gone, I don’t think we could have asked for more,” said Greenhalgh, whose side host struggling Steyning this Saturday (3pm).

“We said all along we wanted to be looking at averaging two points per game and we’re four points above that.

“That was a target we didn’t think was unrealistic but if you end up getting 84 points in a season, normally you’re right up there.

“That was an ambition for us and being ahead of it right now is very good.

“We’ve got a brilliant group and there’s a really good togetherness. They all want to work hard and fight for each other and there’s just a good atmosphere about it all.

“We’ve had a lot of different performances and we’ve got a good number of points to show for it.”

Averaging two points per game was often seen as the gold standard for winning championships.

Ramsgate and Sittingbourne have raised the bar but it shouldn’t be forgotten that Margate started in a very different place after last season’s relegation.

“When you’ve been relegated it would be very naive to start talking about winning leagues because you’re not used to