Margate 0 Carshalton Athletic 1

MARGATE face a tough Easter programme firmly embroiled in a battle to avoid a second relegation in successive seasons.

They visit champions-elect Grays Athletic on Good Friday before facing second placed Cambridge City on Easter Monday, after slipping to 19th place in the Nationwide South table after this latest reverse against fellow-strugglers Carshalton at Homelands on Saturday.

Other results also went against them, with St Albans and Newport both winning, while Sutton and Maidenhead drew 2-2, meaning just two points separate five clubs, with Redbridge already looking doomed.

To make matters worse for Chris Kinnear’s side, Adrian Clarke missed a penalty, before Delando Smith’s late winner ruined Margate’s day, condemning them to a sixth home defeat.

Clarke’s spot-kick was saved by visiting ‘keeper Stuart Searle who was the star of the show for the Surrey side, pulling off a series of fine saves to keep his side on level terms. The best in the fist half came six minutes before the break, when he stopped Che Stadhart’s close range strike, after Rocky Baptiste had headed on Peter Trego’s long punt downfield.

Searle was kept busy after the break, denying Baptiste and substitute Darren Watson, a second half replacement for Moses Jjunju. He then pushed away another effort from defender Ross Smith.

The 35-year-old goalkeeper, now in his third spell with Carshalton, then saved Clarke’s 53rd-minute spot kick after former Gate defender Romauld Bouadji had been penalised for handball by referee Tony Mason. Six minutes later Margate had appeals for another penalty turned down, after a Carshalton defender seemed to handle again.

Margate were further frustrated by seeing Watson’s 63rd-minute effort ruled out for offside after heading in John Keister’s impressive free kick, and the big striker the saw another shot go just wide.

The game looked to be heading for goalless stalemate when, in stoppage time, Smith’s cross from the right went straight in as team-mate Mark Costello and Trego jumped together.

Margate: Trego, Barnett, Smith, Edwards, Keister, Benevides, Charalambous, Clarke, Stadhart, Jjunju (Watson), Baptiste (Eseyas). Subs Not Used: