Margate manager Mark Stimson has called for club representatives to be allowed to sit with FA bosses for appeal review meetings.

Influential midfielder Ben Greenhalgh is serving a three-match suspension after he was controversially red-carded in Gate’s 3-2 loss at Whitehawk earlier this month.

Struggling Isthmian Premier side Margate appealed but revealed the decision had been upheld last Thursday.

Stimson said: “After watching it many times and deciding to appeal, it’s mind-boggling.

“I would love - somehow one day - for them to let a club representative be on these panels to understand why it’s not overturned.

“If you look at the incident and look at the lad’s career, is he the sort of lad to be sent off for violent conduct? Probably not.

“Hopefully, somebody will be able to sit in on these discussions one day.

“It has cost us badly.”

Greenhalgh’s ban, at least, will be over fairly quickly.

He missed the 1-1 home draw against basement boys Concord last weekend but, with their scheduled trip to fellow relegation rivals Cheshunt last night postponed due to a frozen pitch, Greenhalgh will now not yet complete his suspension when Margate host improving Bognor this Saturday.

Gate, who gave debut starts to Colchester loanee midfielder Ryan Lowe and winger Francis Mampolo - on dual registration from Tonbridge - felt they did enough to beat Concord.

They had to come from behind but almost won it at the death after former Margate midfielder Montrell Deslandes, who had earlier found the net for Rangers, was sent off. Former Dover winger Ricky Modeste was dismissed for his protests, too, having already been substituted off.

Stimson reflected: “Unfortunately, it was another weekend of frustration.

“The previous weekend, we conceded that late goal at Whitehawk and then, on Saturday, right at the end, their keeper made a good save and one was cleared off the line. It was frustrating - but there’s positives.

“We gave (full) debuts to two lads, Francis Mampolo from Tonbridge, and Ryan Lowe, who we have got from Colchester. Those were the two big positives to come out of the game.

“The frustrating thing is to not get the three points we felt that we deserved.

“Their keeper was man-of-the-match and that probably tells the story of the match, although we did go one behind quite early.

“We were playing a team bottom of the league but, in their last two games, they had lost to Canvey 1-0 and drew with Hastings 3-3.

“Personally, I think they are only bottom due to the lack of games. They’re not the worst team we have played.”

It was a fourth goal in five games for 16-goal striker Steve Cawley after fine play by Mampolo.

“We have got someone that, if you supply him the right ball, Steve will take the chances,” said Stimson.

“Steve probably will say that he might have got another on Saturday.

“All we can do is supply him as much as possible. His goal return is excellent for someone playing in a team so low in the table. We just need to keep supplying him.”

Another new Margate addition was striker Obed Yeboah - nephew of former Leeds United striker Tony Yeboah - who came off the bench. He also has signed on a dual-registration agreement from National League South Tonbridge.

Stimson said: “We needed pace. Francis and Obed, who only got a few minutes, give us that in forward areas.

“With Ben suspended and Sam (Blackman) just having come back, we wanted a technical midfield player. Especially with Ryan being left-footed, these are good additions.

“We thank Colchester for letting us have him for 28 days. If he can repeat his performance from Saturday, I will be more than happy.”

Stimson thinks Gate now have a bit of competition for places - something he felt they had lacked - with their new boys, as he continues searching for his first win since taking over last month.

“You have to have competition,” he explained. “I don’t think we have had enough of that.

“Otherwise, it can be too easy to think ‘I will be picked because there’s nobody else to take my place’.”