Alex Flisher scored one goal and had a hand in another but it was not enough as Margate surrendered a two-goal lead against the Bostik Premier's bottom club at Hartsdown Park.

Until Saturday the former Maidstone midfielder had been reduced to cameos from the bench, but handed his first start, he struck inside five minutes with an excellent free-kick.

Flisher also featured prominently in Margate's second, on 14 minutes, when his long throw was touched on its way into the net by Hill keeper Josh James although the visitors argued it had gone straight in.

However, Hill's Pat Harding halved the deficit before half-time and Tom Cadman then equalised with a superb free-kick midway through the second half.

The comeback was completed three minutes from time when Andre McCollin volleyed home from a corner that was only half-cleared.

It was only Hill's second league win of the season and ended Margate's four-match unbeaten run.

Flisher was one of two changes made to the Gate side beaten 2-1 at home by Potters Bar in the FA Trophy.

He came in after half-a-dozen appearances as a substitute while Tom Mills returned following his one-game ban. Lee Prescott dropped to the bench with Stephen Okoh not involved at all.

Hill had already made two early forays into the Gate box when they were rocked on their heels by Flisher's opener.

Winger George Brown was fouled right on the left hand edge of Hill's box and Flisher sent a skidding low drive into the far corner.

Hill were incensed by Margate's second goal – given after consultation between referee and linesman – and their mood didn't improve three minutes later when Ibrahim Diallo headed wide at the far post when team-mate Gary Charman was better placed behind him.

However the visitors continued to probe and home keeper Henry Newcombe got down well to deny Aaron Smith-Joseph before being beaten on 33 minutes.

Michael Wilson's cross was headed against the post by Charman and midfielder Harding reacted quickest to drill home the rebound.

The Blues made a bright start to the second half with Ben Swift and Flisher both threatening with headers.

Hill striker Ben Pope was considered lucky by some to only receive a booking after kicking out at Chris Barnard after the Gate midfielder had made a strong challenge.

The visiting skipper then figured in another flashpoint, appealing for a penalty against Liam Friend, but the referee waved play on.

Hill's Wilson flashed a shot over just after the hour, and the Gate were just waiting to make a double substitution when Hill drew level on 66 minutes.

From a free-kick in a similar position to that of Flisher's in the first half full-back Cadman struck a superb shot which Newcombe got a hand to but could not keep out.

Soon after Harding went perilously close with a shot that went just over with Newcombe at full stretch while at the other end James did well to turn aside Frannie Collin's stinging free kick.

The final sting in the tail came with three minutes remaining when Newcombe did not get enough distance on his punch at a corner and McCollin volleyed home.

Margate: Newcombe, Paxman, Mills, Robins, Friend, Swift, G Brown, Barnard (Prescott 66mins), Taylor, Collin, Flisher (Sollis 66mins; Maagbe 77mins) Subs: Kallmeier, Brand.

Burgess Hill: James, Diallo, Cadman, Wilson, Richmond, Charman, McCollin, Harding, Pope (Bennett 72mins), Beck, Smith-Joseph (Richards 54mins); Subs: Watson, Franzen-Jones, Castanho.

Attendance: 489