As expected by many involved in the Ryman Premier League, and those interested onlookers from outside of step three of non-league football, Margate have enjoyed as near-perfect a start a team can ask for, steamrolling the opposition infront of them. 

Six games played and six games won for the Kent side, who’ve made no secret over the past 18 months of their plans to secure promotion and rise up the non-league pyramid.

They say you can only beat what’s in front of you. Well, Terry Brown’s side are more than beating sides, they’re handing out weekly thrashings.

Last season was a year of transition for the club, with them ending the campaign in 11th place and 19 points from the play-off spots. It would take a brave man to bet against the club from finishing outside the top five this time around. 

It seemed the weight of expectation would be a burden for Brown’s men after a 1-0 win at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough on the opening day of the season, with the goal coming in the 77th minute.

But thereafter they’ve gone from strength to strength in a short space of time. Back-to-back away wins at Grays Athletic and Harrow Borough continued their fine start but the next three games they’ve shown their quality.

A 3-1 win at home to East Thurrock United has been followed up by back-to-back 5-1 smashings of Billericay Town and Lewes. Relentless is a word that springs to mind. 

Of the 18 goals they’ve scored this season seven have come from striker Ryan Moss, who bagged 25 goals last season for Kingstonian and paved the way for Margate to acquire his goals and services.

Same again from Moss and promotion will be all but assured. Half a dozen games in and the rest of the league have all but surrendered any chance of winning the title, with the Gate being favourites to claim league honours the understatement of this year. 

Very few things in football are guaranteed but more often than not if a non-league side come about with money to burn they will achieve success, which often correlates to promotion after promotion. 

But money alone does not ensure progression. You need the right players and someone who’s experienced in dealing with the pressure. Margate are in capable hands with Brown.

The 62-year-old has overseen promotion from this league with three teams and plans for Margate to be his fourth triumph.

In his nine years at Hayes, Brown took the club from the brink of relegation from the Ryman Premier League to the cusp of the Football League, when they finished third.

An appointment at Aldershot in 2002 saw him win the league and gain promotion in his first full season, winning the league by 13 points. A similar tally could present itself this campaign too.

Most memorably, Brown instigated the latter rise of AFC Wimbledon, winning promotion to the Conference South in his first season and then secured promotion into the Conference Premier at the first attempt.

At this moment in time, Hartsdown Park is a good place to be. The club’s average home attendance this season from their three games to date is 700, a healthy figure with plenty of potential if the club have high ambitions to compete with non-league’s finest.

Margate will look to continue their impressive start to the season when they face a Leiston side today at home, who’ve started the season in an equally fine way. Four wins, a draw and one defeat from their opening six matches suggest they’ll be no pushovers.

But should Brown’s side dish out another 5-1 hammering, then perhaps we should start looking ahead to their effect in the Conference South next season.