Margate boss Steve Watt believes his team put down a marker with their impressive 3-0 win at Staines in the Buildbase FA Trophy first qualifying round tie on Saturday.

The Blues were already leading their Bostik Premier rivals through midfielder Jack Evans’ 29th minute goal when the home side had Greg Haydon sent off for collecting two yellows just before half-time.

Defender Chris Sessegnon doubled the Gate lead five minutes into the second period before striker Jordan Chiedozie’s 65th minute penalty wrapped up the win.

Watt said the main difference between Saturday’s game and the previous weekend’s 1-1 Bostik Premier draw at Harlow was that the Blues took their chances.

He was also delighted to keep a clean sheet away from home against the division’s leading scorers.

Watt said: “I’d said before the game that we could send out a huge statement by keeping a clean sheet.

“They were at full strength, they rested nobody, so for us to go there and win quite comfortably was very pleasing.

“They hit the post early on but we should have been two or three up before the sending-off.

“We stressed to the boys at half-time that we could put the game to bed in the next 10 to 15 minutes and that’s what we did.”

Watt included new signing Kane Haysman, signed from Bostik rivals Kingstonian on Friday, and he says the 22-year-old midfielder impressed.

He added: “I just thought we needed to freshen things up in the wide areas. I don’t think our supply has been good enough to our front line and Kane was fantastic on Saturday.

“He gives us a different dynamic going forward and his use of the ball was excellent.”

Monday’s Trophy draw handed the Gate a home tie against either Bowers & Pitsea or Egham Town on Saturday, November 11.

Watt’s side host Met Police in the league on Tuesday but will be without midfielder James Rogers, who is suspended after collecting five bookings.