Margate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh praises commitment of Gillingham loanee Josh Bayliss - son of former Gate chairman Alistair Bayliss - to club on debut in 2-1 defeat against Sevenoaks Town
Player-boss Ben Greenhalgh has praised the commitment Margate’s Gillingham loanee Josh Bayliss showed to the club on his debut.
Bayliss came through an hour as Gate’s 15-match Isthmian South East unbeaten run ended with Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Sevenoaks, which was also Margate’s first league loss at Hartsdown Park all campaign.
Young Gillingham striker Bayliss - the son of former Gate club chairman Alistair Bayliss, also the owner of coach company Bayliss Executive Travel - has linked up with Greenhalgh’s side on an initial 28-day deal.
“I have always known of Alistair and the coach company,” said one-time Inter Milan playmaker Greenhalgh, who has had plenty of loan spells through his career himself.
“I think we have always used them during my time here - and I know how heavily involved he was at Margate before. We had a little chat before the game on Saturday and it feels right to get Josh on board.
“I think he showed a lot of heart and spirit and, with the way he played, he showed he cares. That’s hard for a loan player to do.
“I’ve gone on loan from a couple of bigger clubs before and just focused on myself. It’s very difficult, sometimes, for a loan player to show that sort of care for the club.
“But I think Josh has got that a little bit.”
Bayliss was thrust into Gate’s starting line-up against Sevenoaks at short notice after winger Gabriel Duo (Achilles) pulled out in the moments ahead of kick-off.
Greenhalgh said: “Josh showed a really good bit of quality in the warm-up.
“I feel a bit sorry for him because we weren’t able to train on Thursday due to the ice so we couldn’t really filter him in, but we gave a lot of information before the game.
“He understood it and actually played his role really well. The harsh