Margate player-manager Ben Greenhalgh looks ahead to Thanet derby against Ramsgate in Isthmian South East in front of sell-out crowd at Hartsdown Park

Ben Greenhalgh thinks Margate’s massive match against Ramsgate will be a particularly long-awaited one for some of the club’s longest-serving players.

A sell-out crowd of 2,500 will descend on Hartsdown Park for the Isthmian South East match between Thanet’s two biggest teams (1pm).

While Ben Smith’s Ramsgate side remain slight title favourites despite being overtaken by Sittingbourne at the summit, Gate are third - seven points behind them, having played a league fixture more.

Player-boss Greenhalgh has been with Margate since 2021 and took charge in the summer. He says the chance to face the Rams in a league game is an exciting prospect for himself and defensive stalwarts Harry Hudson, Lewis Knight and Harrison Hatfull - as well as first-team coach Elliot Leveson - in particular after a tough couple of years for the club.

“We have had plenty of discussions around what we want to do,” said Greenhalgh. “We’re slightly undecided with both personnel and shape, which is a good thing because that’s due to good performances.

“We know there will be a couple of players that might not be starting on the day who normally would want to be starting. But it’s more then about being together as a group.

“To be honest, that’s one thing we have been brilliant at this season. We have got a really good togetherness. We went to Dublin the weekend before last and 21 of us went.

“I’ve never been part of a squad where the whole squad goes. That proves everyone wants to be with each other and, hopefully, we can show that on the pitch on what will be a big fixture.

“But it’s more of an exciting one, especially for myself and players like Harry and Knighty, who have been here a little bit longer. Elliot has been on the side for quite a while and