The ball distribution of goalkeeper Tom Wray has been hailed as almost Football League standard by Margate boss Ben Greenhalgh.

Wray earned plenty of plaudits again as he kept a clean sheet at ambitious Isthmian Premier team Folkestone last weekend in a goalless draw before they won the Sid Burvill Trophy 5-3 on penalties, Wray saving well to thwart Invicta midfielder Dean Rance.

“Tom was superb,” Greenhalgh said. “I have had so many people singing his praises - and we have been seeing that from him in training, he has made so many shot-stopping saves.

“They didn’t cause problems from set-pieces and that’s mainly down to Tom bravely coming out. We knew what we were signing.

“His distribution is brilliant - well beyond this level, we’re talking nearly Football League level.

“Saturday was a good morale-boost.

“It was good for Tom to get the clean sheet and for the team to get the shoot-out win.”

That shoot-out at Cheriton Road came after neither side had found a breakthrough in sweltering heat inside 90 minutes.

Greenhalgh reflected: “The first half was very pleasing.

“We started the game well and battled well, we were always in the game.

“Obviously, [Evans] Kouassi was always going to cause a couple of problems - as he would in the league above - so we always knew there was an outlet there. But the first half was a very good half.

“The second half, we didn’t come out how we wanted to. But we created plenty of chances.

“We worked out that every attacking player had a chance to score.

“The positive side of that is that we’re creating chances to score goals.”

Isthmian South East Gate’s trip to Folkestone followed their 3-2 victory at Southern Counties East Premier Division Corinthian last Tuesday through goals from midfielders Harvey Brand and James Bessey-Saldanha, alongside forward Ibrahim Olutade.

Greenhalgh said: “Corinthian was a different game.

“We went for a bit of a different style and changed a lot of people around. You have got to give Corinthian credit.

"I know Lordswood did go and beat them on Saturday - but it’s going to take a lot to beat them at Corinthian. They’re just a good, organised, and well-managed team.

“As long as I’m playing or managing, I will always want to play a friendly against Corinthian.

“They give you a test in a different way. But, getting three goals against them, there’s been a lot of positives from the week.”

Margate conclude their run of warm-up fixtures at Isthmian South Central Westfield on Saturday.

On playing friendlies against clubs outside Kent, Greenhalgh admitted: “It’s been good.

“We have played Concord, who are the same step as us, in Essex. We have now got Westfield, who are the same step.

“We’re looking to do something different again. With Westfield, it’s a grass pitch and a smaller pitch.

“We will try a few different things and then we have got four more sessions in total left to prepare for the start of the season.”

Gate also drew fierce Thanet rivals Ramsgate in the first round of the Kent Senior Cup, having beaten the Rams in the semi-final on their way to winning the cup in 2022/23.

Greenhalgh said: “It was a funny one to see.

"We knew we were going to have that rivalry twice this year. It’s one for the fans at the end of the day - and one for Thanet.

“We would love it to be the Kent Senior Cup final or - like it was before - the semi-final. But it’s a game we will look forward to. We will manage it nearer the time.

“It’s a good way to show the players that Thanet rivalry before Boxing Day.”

Ramsgate have added to the squad with several summer signings from higher divisions.

Defender Joe Ellul rejoins the Southwood side as player-coach, ex-Tonbridge midfielder Lewis Gard arrives and former Maidstone midfielder Roarie Deacon has also made the switch.

The Rams, beaten 3-1 by Brentwood last weekend despite Zack Jobe’s first-half strike, gave the new trio debuts in a 5-0 win against Ramsgate Athletic last Tuesday. Two-goal Joe Taylor, Deacon, Benny Bioletti and a trialist on target.

They host Isthmian South Central Kingstonian in another friendly this Saturday.