Nikki Bull described Margate’s 1-1 FA Trophy draw against East Thurrock United on Saturday as the best result of his entire career.

The beleaguered Gate boss admitted there were times on Friday when he wondered whether he would even be able to put a full team out for the third qualifying round tie at Hartsdown.

His already depleted squad was further ravaged by the departures late last week of Luke Moore, Matt Johnson and Danny Fitzsimons (all to Billericay), Manny Parry (Braintree) and Alex Osborn (Whitehawk).

In came goalkeeper Valerie Pajetat, defender Cameron Heffernan, midfielder Ryan Richefond and striker Victor Adeboyejo but a deal to bring in another defender, Tariq Moore-Azille was held up due to an error with the paperwork.

The 15-strong Gate squad for the tie included three goalkeepers, one of whom was boss Bull who revealed he was was prepared to play on field if necessary.

The 35-year-old said given the backdrop to the game, it was one of his proudest moments in football adding: “I said to the players after the game. It’s 20-odd years since I left home to set out as an apprentice at QPR and that is the best result I’ve ever had in football either as a player or a manager.

“I’ve had some big victories as a player in big games that meant a lot to me, but nothing has meant as much to me as that result today.

“The last couple of weeks have been absolute hell. Everybody knows the state the club’s in and to lose another five players Thursday night meant I was scrambling around on Friday before deadline speaking to dozens and dozens and dozens of players trying to get them in.

“I’m so so proud of the boys, they’ve put on a hell of a performance there especially when a soft penalty gets given away after after only five minutes.

“ Eight of the starting XI out there today are being paid nothing, zero, and then you’ve got people like Brett Johnson, he wasn’t supposed to be playing (due to a hamstring injury) but another administrative error prevented me signing at least one player which I was led to believe had been done.

“I picked Brett up this morning and he got in with his bag and said ‘I’m playing today. I might last five minutes, I might last 15 but I can’t just sit back' and you can’t buy that.”

Bull also revealed that he had addressed supporters in the bar before the match, asking them not to turn on the players if things went badly.

He explained: “I went into the bar at half past two and gathered the fans together. I just explained why we were where we were, all the players have gone, they’ve gone out of necessity but there’s no point trying to run or hide.

“Every football club is judged by what happens on the grass and I know at the moment we’re a million miles away from being acceptable but I just pleaded with them that whatever happened stick with the boys because they are turning up and playing for nothing.

“If you have any frustrations or if anything goes wrong I’ll happily come into the bar and take all of the abuse and everything but just for today get behind the boys.

“They’re not getting paid, they’re here because they want an opportunity and I don’t think there'll be one fan going home tonight feeling they’ve been short changed.”