Margate player-manager Ben Greenhalgh discusses how battle for club’s Golden Boot between himself and 20-goal top scorer Ibrahim Olutade drives standards as Gate make it five straight wins

Player-boss Ben Greenhalgh has explained how competition between himself and Margate’s 20-goal top scorer Ibrahim Olutade has helped push the club on.

Greenhalgh bagged a brace as Gate kept their slim hopes of an Isthmian South East play-off finish alive with a 2-0 home win over Hassocks on Saturday.

That moved playmaker Greenhalgh, 33, back within one goal of striker Olutade after his second-half double in last midweek’s 2-0 triumph at relegation-threatened Beckenham.

While one-time Inter Milan man Greenhalgh was more known for his assists at previous clubs, he has taken on the goalscoring mantle at Hartsdown Park alongside Olutade.

He said: “I have always been more renowned for creating goals.

“I have always looked a bit more at my assists over my goals, they’re normally high but at Margate, I have been in more of a position to get more goals over the last few years.

“At previous clubs, it’s been about getting crosses in whereas, at Margate, it’s been about cutting inside more.

“This year, I have been chasing Ibzs (to be top scorer) a little bit. At the same time, it’s not like we’re not going to pass to each other!

“It’s something that works between us - and is working for the club.”

A perfect record of five wins from five games in March has kept hopes of a top-five finish alive for Gate, who are six points off Jersey Bulls, in fourth, and fifth-placed Sittingbourne.

Margate’s much-improved form will face the ultimate test at promotion-chasers AFC Whyteleafe this Saturday before a home derby against Herne Bay on Easter Monday.

“We have got very close to Faversham,” said Greenhalgh, whose side have also kept four straight clean sheets.

“We were 11 or 12 points off them at one point but we have always been looking at