Margate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh praises young goalkeepers Tom Wray and Reece Hobbs as top scorer Ibrahim Olutade also set to stay at Hartsdown Park

Margate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh rates goalkeeper Reece Hobbs as good as some No.2s in National League South.

Greenhalgh has wasted little time this summer in keeping the core of his squad together for their 2025/26 Isthmian South East promotion bid after play-off semi-final disappointment.

Among those staying are No.1 Tom Wray and Hobbs - who both came through Dartford’s youth-team ranks - as well as goalkeeping coach Owen Kallmeier.

Wray played in 46 games for Margate, quickly establishing himself as one of the division’s best keepers, while Hobbs played 10 times in his absence.

He kept three clean sheets, including a last-minute penalty save as Gate ended their regular campaign with a 1-0 victory at Ashford.

Greenhalgh said: “When you look at Reece last year, he was the No.2 all year but he only played two or three times.

"This year, he’s got 10 games as a No.2 - if you consider him that.

“He played in some big games, as well.

“It was a great learning experience for him. You know you’re probably not going to have your No.1 available all year.

“But Reece is the best No.2 in the league, the level above and maybe even the level above that! I’ve spoken to a few in the level above and they have said they’d have him as their No.2.

“I’ve had them both at the Dartford Academy so I’ve worked with them both since they were a young age and they have worked closely together.

“Tom - in some big games - has been absolutely brilliant. His Ramsgate performances in both games were on another level.

“But Reece was brilliant for us, as well.”

Two others already among a healthy retained list at Hartsdown Park are young full-backs Kai Garande and Harrison Hatfull.

“That’s a massive positive in the way we play,” said Greenhalgh. “We