Margate midfielder Sam Blackman makes scoring club comeback in 4-2 victory at Eastbourne Town as winger TT Walters and defender Emmanuel Oke also join for season run-in

Sam Blackman enjoyed a superb Margate return on Saturday.

Gate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh had hoped to retain Blackman last summer, only for the midfielder to join Folkestone as uncertainty continued at Hartsdown Park following Isthmian Premier relegation and Mark Stimson’s exit as manager.

But having struggled to force his way in at Invicta, and after not playing since February 1, former captain Blackman rejoins Gate for their Isthmian South East promotion push on loan for the rest of this season.

The 29-year-old made an instant impact from the start as he scored inside the first 10 minutes of their 4-2 victory at Eastbourne.

Greenhalgh said: “It was always a tough one with Blacky.

“He was probably going to be the first one to sign for me this season. But he agreed to sign for Folkestone when there were a few things that were still going on for us.

“Where he has had some time off from football, I think he’s got that hunger back. He’s got an opportunity to get us into the play-offs.

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“He made a big difference on Saturday. We probably played him longer than we expected - but we simply had to keep playing him with how well he did.

“It was a good day for him.”

Other new Margate arrivals in the last two weeks have been returning defender Emmanuel Oke, 22, and 24-year-old winger TT Walters while forward Tom Derry only joined from Folkestone in late January.

Walters won a penalty on his Gate debut, too, with substitute Ben Allen converting the late spot-kick after young forward Louie Atkins and playmaker Greenhalgh had struck in the first half-hour.

“I had a conversation with Ricky [Owen, chairman] and the board,” Greenhalgh revealed.

“We were all aligned that we needed more squad depth. We had