Player-boss Ben Greenhalgh admits he cannot recall a run of away matches quite like the one his Margate side are playing through.

Captain Harry Hudson scored as Gate were held to a 1-1 Isthmian South East draw at Merstham in their third successive match on the road last weekend.

Margate, who lost their midweek Velocity Cup tie at Sheppey 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw as Kane Haysman scored, visit Isthmian South Central side Westfield in the FA Trophy first qualifying round this weekend and go to Thanet rivals Ramsgate in their Kent Senior Cup first-round tie on Tuesday.

They have played at Hartsdown Park just once since their opening-day 1-1 draw with Jersey Bulls but even that game - an FA Cup 1-0 loss against Cobham last month - came after the initial tie had finished 2-2 in Surrey.

"I've never been a part of a football club that has been scheduled to have eight away games in a row," Greenhalgh said.

"We did end up having one at home in that run - but that was only in a replay. We just need to get through these away games.

"Once we have managed these away games, we can then look towards playing VCD at home next Saturday."

It's perhaps no surprise then Gate have made a slow start to this season. They did likewise last term, though, and managed to finish fourth.

Greenhalgh explained: "The main thing - when you play away from home, game-after-game - is you have to change things.

"You play against different teams and on different pitches.

"From an outside perspective, in the league, Sittingbourne away, Ashford away and Merstham away are really tough.

"Last year, we didn't win a league game in August and, this year, we've not won a league game in August.

"But we're relaxed about it."

Without defenders Lewis Knight and Emmanuel Oke, and with midfielder Sam Blackman on the bench at Merstham, Margate had to come from behind with centre-back Hudson meeting a set-piece for his first goal this season in the 78th minute to claim a point.

"If we had won games already in the league, we would be very happy with a point at Merstham," said Greenhalgh, who is awaiting scan results on Oke's ankle injury.

"We had a game-plan and we were consistent with it.

"We were unlucky to concede the goal that we conceded, I think there was a soft foul on Michael Clark that most referees give, but it wasn't given.

"We had a lot of set-pieces that we were not getting on the end of. Then, Harry did get on the end of one.

"But Merstham are a good side - we were both in the play-offs last season - and a draw was probably a fair result."

The match at Merstham also saw Gate give a debut to Michael Clark, the defender on dual registration from Bishop's Stortford.

"I know Michael Clark quite well," Greenhalgh revealed. "I played against him numerous times when he was with St Albans.

"We knew we were a bit light on numbers with E-man Oke and Lewis Knight missing on Saturday, two centre-backs, as well as an experienced player in Sam Black-man.

"He's probably not going to feature too much for us. I know Bishop's Stortford will want to use him in the Trophy.

"But Michael's a really good addition.

"I felt a bit sorry for him on Saturday. He had a good game and was pulled down a bit for their goal.