Max Walsh made an immediate impact on his Margate debut on Saturday.

Midfielder Walsh made his bow for Ben Greenhalgh’s team in their 2-1 Isthmian South East win at Lancing after arriving from rivals Ashford.

Ironically, he netted for the Nuts & Bolts in a 2-2 draw against Margate in August.

He impressed player-manager Greenhalgh in West Sussex and even had a goal ruled out.

“Max is a player I have monitored ever since his Academy days at Dartford,” said his new manager. “He wanted to get into senior football quite early and he did that at East Grinstead.

“Flan (No.2 Adam Flanagan) worked with him last year and spoke highly of him. He was a brilliant addition on Saturday.

“He was very good to play with. We went from creating six, seven or eight good chances to doubling those numbers.

“He scored a disallowed goal that, looking back on it, was probably not offside.”

Greenhalgh believes Walsh is the type of player who can stay at the club for the long term.

“He has probably played nearly 100 non-league games,” he said.

“We’re looking at building a squad that can push the club forward and be part of those plans.

“He looks after himself - I think he’s a personal trainer at the moment - and fits into our style of play nicely. I think that’s why he had a good game on Saturday.

“I’m sure we will see him on the scoresheet before too long.”

Gate went ahead in first-half injury time at Lancing through defender Harry Docherty’s own goal, and although Docherty scored to cancel out his error, Gate substitute Jordan Ababio came up with an 89th-minute winner.

Greenhalgh, whose troops bounced back from their 2-0 FA Cup third qualifying round replay defeat at Isthmian Premier side Horsham last midweek, reflected: “The plan was to go there and get three points which is, obviously, what we did.

“There was definitely a bit of a hangover from our performance from the two games against Horsham.

“It’s difficult because you go from playing a good team in the league above to teams in your league again. To be fair to them, Lancing were expansive and caused us problems.

“We scored at the perfect time and probably should have had three or four more in the second half.”

Young winger Ababio’s winner in the final minute of normal time was just his second goal of the campaign after a spell out of the starting line-up.

Greenhalgh said: “Myself and Flan have had a chat with Jordan over the last couple of weeks.

“It’s not panned out how he wanted it to and how we wanted it to for him, either. But he has a real ruthlessness.

“He started pre-season well and got a few assists at the start of the season.

“It’s been good to have those conversations with Jordan. He still wants to be a part of things and came on Saturday and did a good job.

“It was a well-taken goal - he used his speed well and took the goal well. He could have jumped ship but it’s been brilliant to see how Jordan has managed himself.

“Maybe, he can kick on again.”

Gate’s attention now returns to league matters. They are at home to Three Bridges tonight before the visit of AFC Croydon Athletic to Hartsdown Park on Saturday.

“Our last league game at home was a month ago,” recalled Greenhalgh. “So, it will be good to get some league home games under our belt.

“One thing we’re noticing when teams come to us is they probably see us as one of the big dogs in the league.

“There’s not going to be any games where there’s an easy three points. ”

Lukas Franzen-Jones has left as Greenhalgh described the striker, who had netted just one competitive goal for the club this term, as a brilliant person.

Asked if Franzen-Jones would be replaced, he confirmed: “We will look.

“Obviously, Max gives us a bit of a different dimension.

“There’s a few options, but I’m happy with what I have got and we’re competing with what we have got.

“So, there will not be any sudden movement.”