Margate boss Barry Ashby has thanked former Watford team-mate Perry Suckling for helping ease the Thanet club’s goalkeeping problems by offering them Tottenham youngster Lee Butcher.

Scott Chalmers-Stevens and Pat Mullin are both sidelined by injury, so Ashby and Neville Southall began searching for cover and Suckling, now goalkeeping coach at White Hart Lane, responded.

Ashby said: "Perry got back, and offered Lee to us. He is highly rated, and has played for their academy and reserve teams. He has come in and done well."

Both Chalmers-Stevens (thumb) and Mullin (metatarsal) could be out for another three to four weeks.

Gate return to league action at home to Hastings on Saturday.