Margate 2 Weston Super Mare 0

MARGATE'S Darren Watson came off the bench to help his injury-hit team grab the points in a scrappy Nationwide South contest at Homelands on Saturday.

He set up the first for Che Stadhart, and then netted the second after some great work by American midfielder Peter Benevides.

The win was greeted with great enthusiasm by the 'Gate fans who had witnessed their team defend for long periods, with new signing Ross Smith and Aaron Barnett both battling hard against the physical presence of visiting striker Adie Mings.

Barnett summed up Margate's spirit following a first half challenge. He looked groggy as he was led from the pitch, but with no defenders on the bench, he bravely returned to the fray, only to get another clattering late in the game.

Boss Chris Kinnear was again without Greg Oates, Billy Edwards and Pat Gradley, and played Rocky Baptiste behind the front two of Stadhart and Moses Junju. Despite losing the corner-count 14-3 in a game that Weston dominated for long periods, Margate battled away to earn their first clean-sheet at home this season. Goalkeeper Peter Trego, playing against his old club set the tone for the afternoon with a fine double-save early on, and the former Kent cricketer had a busy afternoon.

Rocky Baptiste, playing behind the front two created an early chance, before Stadhart fired wide. Weston's Lee Jarman was booked for a foul on Stadhart, before Trego kept out an effort by Lewis Hogg.

Barnett needed lengthy treatment on the half hour, and it was a surprise when he re-emerged from the dressing room. Then Moses Junju went close, before Benevides headed wide.

Trego stopped another effort by David Gilroy, before Margate created their best chances as the game ticked into first half stoppage time. Adrian Clarke fired over after a free kick was half cleared. Then Stadhart's low drive was kept out by Weston 'keeper Ryan Northmore, and Benevides beat two players, only to see his shot blocked.

Watson replaced Junju at the start of the second half, as Margate won their first corner seven minutes after the restart.

Most of the second half was played in the Margate half but Kinnear's team refused to buckle, and the game looked set for goalless stalemate, until Watson made the difference.

Seven minutes from the end the big striker, who returned to the club recently, set up Stadhart to score with a low drive.

Then Clarke set up Benevides, but the quick-footed American's burst into the area, saw him lose the ball, but refusing to give up on a lost cause got it back.

The ball eventually fell to Watson and he tucked it away to confirm Margate's victory, their first in Conference success for more than a month.

MARGATE: Trego Charalambous, Smith, Barnett, Annon, Benevides, Keister, Clarke, Baptiste( Bulley 75 mins), Junju( Watson 46 mins) Stadhart. Subs: Pulman, Hussein.