Margate player-manager Ben Greenhalgh again bemoans his team’s inability to name consistent starting line-up as they suffered 4-2 home derby defeat against Ashford United

Player-manager Ben Greenhalgh has again bemoaned Margate’s inability to name a consistent starting line-up.

Gate suffered a 4-2 Isthmian South East home defeat against Ashford, despite goals from Ibrahim Olutade and fellow striker Joe Taylor, as ex-Gate frontman Louis Collins bagged a hat-trick for the Nuts & Bolts last weekend.

Trailing to a first-half goal by Collins, Margate hit back through top scorer Olutade but struggled to build on that momentum after the interval.

Last term’s play-off semi-finalists already sit some way behind the top five and have played a game more than most of those above them.

Greenhalgh said: “Goals change games - and that’s exactly what happened.

“Us scoring the second goal of the game to make it 1-1, that changed the game positively for us. If we do score again, who’s to say that we don’t go and put on a really positive performance?

“But then, we made a silly mistake (for Ashford’s second goal) and it changed the game for them.

“We all know the defending this season hasn’t been good enough, we need to do something about that, but it’s hard when you cannot pick the same team.

“Tom Wray wasn’t available on Saturday so - again - we couldn’t pick the same XI. We think it’s only twice we have been able to do that this season.

"That goes to show the inconsistency we have had.”

With No.1 Tom Wray absent, Greenhalgh was, at least, able to call on fellow young goalkeeper Reece Hobbs, who has only recently linked up with Southern Counties East League Premier Division Rusthall on dual registration.

“Tom had a family emergency,” said Greenhalgh, who also had to take defender Lewis Knight off with an ankle injury in the first half. “These things happen.

“Reece was actually meant to be playing for