Manager Steve Watt praised the impact of his substitutes as Margate ended their long winless run with a 2-0 home win over relegation rivals Gosport Borough on Saturday.

Pape Gueye won the 88th minute penalty converted by fellow sub Ira Jackson, who then added a second from Jeffery Monakana's low cross five minutes into stoppage time at Hartsdown Park.

The win was Margate's first in 20 Vanarama National League South matches, and Watt - for whom the success was also his first as boss - said he always felt Jackson and Gueye could have an impact off the bench.

Dover loanee Jackson replaced Jerson Dos Santos at half-time while forward Gueye came on for Michael Thalassitis midway through the second period.

Boss Watt said: "I left out Ira and I left out Pape who did well last week (in the goalless draw at Concord) but I said to both of them I thought they would come on and have an impact.

"I wanted to give Ira enough time to get into the game because I know as a wide player coming on for 10, 15 minutes it's difficult to get up to the speed of the game.

"I thought if I can get him on at half-time it gives him a good 45 minutes to find his feet which I thought he did well.

"As the game went on he began to find his space and I'm so happy for him. He's a young kid who has come on loan and getting these two goals he probably doesn't know the significance of it, in terms of how much they mean to the club.

"I always had a plan to introduce Pape late on because I know what he brings energy wise and he was a massive key for both goals.

"Obviously he got brought down for the penalty and then he won a great header to put in Jeffrey Monakana to set up the second goal. The two subs came on and played their part massively in us getting three points."

Watt said he was pleased with the way his side stayed on the front foot after the disappointment of Dean Morgan's 11th minute penalty miss and he was delighted with the contribution of returning striker Thalassitis, who resigned for the Blues last week.

He added: "I've always been a massive fan of Thala. He's a great addition to the squad and if I can get him right I know at this level he is one of the best strikers in the division.

"I've played against him and he's always a handful. I think he was fantastic today I really do. He's a hard-working player but he also had real moments of quality.

"I think he did his bit, in tiring their defence out, allowing Pape to come on with that freshness to create what he did.

"For me everyone out there was brilliant and at the end of the game I was just so happy the boys got what they deserved."

Gate's clean sheet was their second in as many matches and Watts says the players have now set the benchmark for the remaining nine games of the season.

They remain bottom but the gap to them and Whitehawk, just outside the drop zone, is back at 10 points.

Their next opponents are Hemel Hempstead, who lost 6-0 at Bath on Saturday.

Watt added: "What we need to do is try to keep this unbeaten run going. I know it's only two games but when you've not won in 18 going two unbeaten is a good achievement.

"The boys have set standards now which I'll be asking them to maintain. If we can do that then I think we'll cause teams a lot of problems."