Manager Mark Stimson admits it’s been an eye opener coming into Margate and this weekend he takes his side to promotion chasing Chatham Town.

The meeting of Chatham Town and Margate this weekend has major significance at both ends of the Isthmian Premier table as the Chats look to close leaders Hornchurch’s lead, whilst for the Gate any win will do in their fight to stay in the division.

Former Gillingham boss Mark Stimson took charge at Hartsdown Park in mid-December and is still awaiting his first win as manager and knows that with sides above them picking up points this week elsewhere, time is beginning to run out… 

“When we went in, we didn’t think it would develop as it has so far, and it’s been an eye opener for me!” Stimson admitted to KSN this week.

“It’s something we all want to change and get the first win and hopefully in this derby away to Chatham on Saturday will be the one that we do it in.” 

“We have had some tough games, but the fixtures are the fixtures! Recently they have been tough – Dulwich were excellent last Saturday, and before that in midweek away at Hasting after an away game at Lewes – it has been a difficult period, but we did in my second or third game where we played Kingstonian and then Cray and we still did not manage to get that win.”

“We just have to keep trying to improve the group and that is why in the last couple of weeks we have brought in five or six new players, and we are just hoping that they can gel quickly.”

“Every manager will tell you that when you bring in several new players it takes a bit of time – we though do not have that time and we must stay concentrated and focused to get the boys gelled together as quickly as we can.” 

The Gate come to Medway occupying the final place in the relegation Play Off on goal difference only behind Cheshunt, but after wins for both Andy Drury’s Folkestone Invicta and Neil Smith’s Cray Wanderers last weekend followed by the midweek draw between the two at Cheriton Road, there is now a ten point gap between the two clubs and the bottom five – a fact that Stimson is only too well aware of.

“They both had great results last weekend winning away from home whilst the rest of us all lost which is why they have pulled away a bit more.”

“But like most tables, if you can get two wins and a draw and take seven points out of nine, you do catch people up and we have just got to try and get these first three points and once we get those try to build on that.” 

“We know that Saturday at Chatham is going to be very tough, but we’ve prepared as properly as we can to go in there and push hard to get the points.” 

“The Club won the league game at Hartsdown Park before I joined although I have watched the game back last week and I think that Ben (Greenhalgh) scored a goal from in his own half in the game.”

“It would be nice to repeat that, but we all know that Chatham are flying now and have a couple of real top players there. One being one of my “old boys” Chris Dickson who we all know about, so we will have to be on our toes to keep him quiet because he’s still got all the hunger and desire to score goals!” 

Since that game at Hartsdown Park in October, Margate’s form has not been good, taking just ten points for the twenty League games played, winning just once against Lewes on the first Saturday in November – seventeen games without a win of which Stimson has been in charge for nine. 

He will of course be remembered for masterminding Gillingham’s 2009 Play Off Final win at Wembley against Shrewsbury Town and is looking forward to a rare return to the banks of the Medway.

“It’s something to look forward to,” he admitted. “The memories of what we achieved at Gillingham and for me I will always remember the good times!”

“I know that there were some bad times there as well, but those good times overwhelm the bad times. Hopefully, it will be a good memory we make on Saturday, maybe in front of a few Gillingham fans who I have not seen for a long time! Hopefully, they will turn up with their blue scarves to help us too…” 

“If the Gills get a result at Notts County on Friday night and the supporters want to see a game on Saturday afternoon, please come over and put the blue scarf on!”