George Essuman says he is delighted to have signed for Margate and even happier that his debut against Lowestoft on Saturday ended with a clean sheet.

The 21-year-old centre-half only met his team-mates for the first time on matchday, but gave an assured performance at the heart of the defence as the Gate won 1-0 to make it five wins on the spin and nine unbeaten in the Bostik Premier.

Essuman, who has signed on a month’s loan from Dover, said he has still to learn all his new team-mates’ names but that it helped coming into a side which is playing well at the moment.

He explained; “That was a big thing (coming into a team on a good run), before the game the boys were quite lively, they were dancing around, it shows the dressing room is positive and upbeat and I’m happy I’ve come into this environment.

“We warmed up, did a few passing drills and then went straight out there. I didn’t know half of their names to be fair. The few I did know were the back four and keeper, I just got on with the game really.

“It was a hard earned win. Lowestoft were quite good, they passed the ball well, and they had that massive No.11 up front as well (Shaun Bammant). He was quite physical so it was a good fight, but it was a well drilled win for us.

“The last 10 minutes you could see how much the team wanted to win, throwing bodies in, clearances off the line. Everyone was doing their bit to make sure we got the three points.”

Essuman, who stands 6ft 4in, signed for Dover from Bostik League side VCD in March, 2017, and had been a target for Gate boss Steve Watt earlier in the season.

Before Christmas he enjoyed a profitable three-month spell with Conference South side Whitehawk and admitted he was happy when Watt came calling a second time.

He explained: “They (Margate) tried before but it couldn’t go through, I was just happy they wanted me to come down again so through my agent they got in contact with each other and I’m happy to be here now.

“The paperwork only got finished on Friday. I completed it after training (with Dover) on Thursday, but a few things weren’t right with the forms so I had to drive down to Dartford after a dentist’s appointment to meet the secretary and we signed it.

“I’m looking to play regularly and keep as many clean sheets as possible. If I could pop up with a goal that would be nice.”

Essuman very nearly did just that on Saturday when his close-range effort in the second half was well saved by Lowestoft keeper Ben Dudzinski.

During the same melee Jordan Chiedozie and Kane Haysman were both denied by the crossbar and Sam Blackman by two goalline clearances.

The defender, who lives in Chingford, added: “I had my chance, I thought it was my moment. I toe poked it but the keeper literally flicked it off the line.”