Mark Stimson thinks it’s now “man time” for Margate as they desperately look to turn their miserable form around.

A 2-1 Isthmian Premier derby defeat at second-placed Chatham last weekend ensured struggling Gate’s agonising wait for a first win under manager Stimson continued.

Margate visit fellow strugglers Cheshunt tonight, looking to end a five-match losing run, and Stimson still wants to add more experienced faces despite bringing back midfielder Mo Kamara.

Defender Lewis Knight also made a timely return as a makeshift striker at Chatham.

Stimson said: “It was nice to see Knighty back. He’s another experienced player at the level, so he will be called upon.

“We need that. We need the bench, as well as the team, filled up with men.

“What we’re going into is man time.”

Report: Chatham 2-1 Margate

‘They’re just saying to me that they’re backing me’

Kamara shone for Gate in Medway, his arrival coinciding with the departure of left-back Archie Johnson while fellow midfielder Ryan Lowe has returned to Colchester after his 28-day youth loan.

“Young Ryan came in and did a job for us from Colchester,” explained Stimson, whose side host mid-table Canvey Island this Saturday.

“He did okay but, when Mo became available, there’s no comparison - there’s a man and there’s a boy. We need men.

“On Saturday, we brought on two substitutes (Fyn Rutherford and Vinnie Bowman), who have done brilliantly for the football club.

“But we need to bring on players with experience of playing at the level.”

Kamara also helped provide energy for Margate - something they have been lacking.

Stimson, who had to take Kamara off in stoppage time with cramp, said: “He’s come in and I knew what we could get from him. He showed pace, power and forward-thinking.

“That’s what we have needed in midfield with Sam Blackman out for so many weeks, which means we have lost that type of player.

“They’re hard to get. But we have brought in Mo now and, hopefully, he will give us that and one or two others will step up.”

Stimson had been particularly disappointed at Chats’ opening goal in front of a crowd of 1,897 at the Bauvill Stadium, as Jamie Yila curled home after a short-corner routine.

“From us, it’s awful,” he bemoaned. “But that’s the young 18-year-old, playing right-back (Archie Panyi), who just switched-off.

“He did really well to defend and see the ball off for a corner. Then, he just has to see that phase out. He needs to stand three yards away from the ball and make the referee pull him away.

“But he didn’t do that and the boy (Yila) has put it into the top corner.

“That was a big blow for us because, before that, there was nothing in the game.

“You wouldn’t have thought one team was second and one team hasn’t won in 20-odd games before that.”

But Panyi did also play a hand in Margate’s goal, his high cross being knocked down by winger Kadell Daniel for Tyrone Sterling.

Stimson said: “He’s done the right thing, hasn’t he?

“He probably had realised he was at fault for a goal - but he’s not felt sorry for himself.

“He’s got a big heart for a young lad and he’s got forward, and crossed the ball for us to equalise. Fair play to him. That’s what you have got to do.

“In this game, there’s so many ups and downs, it’s about how you get over your downs. When you’re up, it’s an easy game but, when you’re down, you have just got to dig in and - nine times out of 10 - just do the simple thing.

“I’m sure that’s something he will learn.”