Margate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh on defender Emmanuel Oke’s sending-off in 3-2 weekend win at Broadbridge Heath, two-goal Ibrahim Olutade and journey to Hastings United

Player-manager Ben Greenhalgh has mixed emotions about Margate defender Emmanuel Oke’s sending-off at Broadbridge Heath.

Oke was given a second yellow card in stoppage time as it ended 3-2 to Gate.

Greenhalgh conceded the 23-year-old was slightly fortunate to only get booked by referee Matthew Pollington for a challenge with 56 minutes played.

But Oke was then sent off as he was cautioned for time-wasting in what Greenhalgh claimed was mistaken identity.

“It’s a difficult one,” said Greenhalgh. “He put in quite a firm tackle for his first yellow, which could have been awarded a red, and then the second yellow had nothing to do with him.

“There’s a slight positive. It could have been a [straight] red and a three-game ban and, instead, he has got a one-game ban.

“But it’s very frustrating when the second yellow card had nothing to do with him.

“One of our other players was actually due to be taking a throw and E-Man got classed as time-wasting.

“E-Man has been brilliant this year and offers a different outlet to our defence. I don’t think defenders themselves have had terrible seasons but it’s more we haven’t found the right balance and the right partnerships yet.

"There have been a couple of partnerships that E-Man has been in that have worked really well - and we haven’t been able to continue them.”

Nevertheless, Gate held on for three points against Broadbridge, themselves reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes to go, as they responded after back-to-back home losses.

Greenhalgh reflected: “It still speaks volumes of a few of our negatives this season in terms of, when we scored, we then have let in a pretty poor goal.

"But, in general, it was a really dominating performance. I think everyone that watched the game saw how on