Margate’s win over Wingate & Finchley keeps their survival bid alive in the Isthmian Premier Division but all eyes are on Cheshunt versus Horsham tonight

Margate boss Mark Stimson has praised the fighting spirit of his team after refusing to give up on their survival hopes.

Their impressive recent form continued at the weekend with a 2-1 win over Wingate & Finchley. Margate’s only defeat in their last seven was against the Champions - losing 1-0 to Hornchurch - and they’ve won three of their last four.

It’s promotion form from Stimson’s men but they ended last weekend still inside the bottom four and reliant on a midweek result to keep their hopes alive this Saturday.

Relegation rivals Cheshunt are due to host play-off chasing Horsham tonight (Tuesday). Victory for Cheshunt would leave Margate with too many goals to make up, even if they won this Saturday, in their final game at Billericay.

Speaking ahead of the midweek match, Stimson praised the character of his men for prolonging the fight for as long as they have.

He said: “We’ve asked the boys to give it everything they’ve got and they have done that.

“Credit to the boys, we really expressed to them how much it means to the club and I am here doing the job and proud to be the manager of Margate and the boys are proud to be playing for Margate.

“It is so important for the club that we give it our best shot and we’ve done that, we just have everything crossed that we can get over that line, but it is going to be tough.”

Isthmian Premier Division table & Margate’s recent results

Goals from Jeremiah Pinder and Ben Greenhalgh won them the match on Saturday against Wingate & Finchley.

Stimson said: “We were playing a side desperate for a point to confirm their play-off position and thoroughly deserved the win.

“The desire in the last six or seven games has been outstanding, it’s just puzzling why it has taken this much