Margate player-manager Ben Greenhalgh concedes derby with Herne Bay proved one match too many as side’s six-game winning run ends with 1-0 home defeat

Player-manager Ben Greenhalgh felt Margate’s derby defeat to Herne Bay simply proved one game too many.

Gate had headed into the match against Ben Smith’s new-look Bay side on Easter Monday on a six-match winning streak, which had kept alive their slender hopes of finishing in the Isthmian South East play-off positions.

Margate’s hopes of a top-five finish are pretty much over now, though, after a 1-0 defeat in front of a crowd of 771 at Hartsdown Park.

Attacking midfielder Greenhalgh reflected: “In general, it was one game too many for us.

“Realistically, from watching the game back, we just couldn’t get the energy out of the players to show what we had shown in our past six games.

“When I look back at Bank Holiday games, it’s really difficult. I have always loved playing in them, especially during my National League South days, but it’s a bit too much sometimes for Step 4.

“It was a terrible game on Monday. I’m not even sure either team had a ‘proper’ shot. Their goal came from an in-swinging corner that got flicked on.

“We knew the way the game was going, neither team had lots about them, and it was a case of which team could nick it.

“Being on the wrong end of that, it was a little bit disappointing.”

But Greenhalgh, who had seen his charges win 2-0 at second-placed AFC Whyteleafe through first-half goals by striker Ibrahim Olutade and left-back Kai Garande just two days earlier, is refusing to look too much into it.

“I’m trying to not look into it too much,” he added. “I do believe the only reason we needed [more] legs was because it was 48 hours after the Whyteleafe game.

“At Whyteleafe, everyone knows that they have got a big astro-pitch.

"A lot of energy was used up and we were brilliant against them, scoring two