Margate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh on signing midfielder Max Walsh, substitute Jordan Ababio’s late winner during their 2-1 win at Lancing and consecutive matches at Hartsdown Park

Max Walsh made an immediate impact on his Margate debut on Saturday.

Midfielder Walsh made his bow for Ben Greenhalgh’s team in their 2-1 Isthmian South East win at Lancing after arriving from rivals Ashford.

Ironically, he netted for the Nuts & Bolts in a 2-2 draw against Margate in August.

He impressed player-manager Greenhalgh in West Sussex and even had a goal ruled out.

“Max is a player I have monitored ever since his Academy days at Dartford,” said his new manager. “He wanted to get into senior football quite early and he did that at East Grinstead.

“Flan (No.2 Adam Flanagan) worked with him last year and spoke highly of him. He was a brilliant addition on Saturday.

“He was very good to play with. We went from creating six, seven or eight good chances to doubling those numbers.

“He scored a disallowed goal that, looking back on it, was probably not offside.”

Greenhalgh believes Walsh is the type of player who can stay at the club for the long term.

“He has probably played nearly 100 non-league games,” he said.

“We’re looking at building a squad that can push the club forward and be part of those plans.

“He looks after himself - I think he’s a personal trainer at the moment - and fits into our style of play nicely. I think that’s why he had a good game on Saturday.

“I’m sure we will see him on the scoresheet before too long.”

Gate went ahead in first-half injury time at Lancing through defender Harry Docherty’s own goal, and although Docherty scored to cancel out his error, Gate substitute Jordan Ababio came up with an 89th-minute winner.

Greenhalgh, whose troops bounced back from their 2-0 FA Cup third qualifying round replay defeat at Isthmian Premier side Horsham last midweek, reflected: “The plan was to go there