Manager Mark Stimson praised Margate’s fans for their support during the derby defeat at home to Folkestone on New Year’s Day.

Striker Dave Smith - who had a brief and unsuccessful loan spell at Hartsdown Park from December 2022 until last January - got both goals in the first half as Invicta completed an Isthmian Premier double over Gate this season in the Thanet team’s 2-0 loss.

It means Margate, who are only one place and two points clear of the relegation zone, remain winless under Stimson and haven’t tasted victory since November 4.

Reflecting on the defeat, Stimson, who played Archie Johnson in left midfield and Tyrone Sterling at left-back, said: “It’s straight after the match - and, sometimes, my thoughts are a bit blurred. We started the game okay but not how we would have liked to.

“We tried to set up with a winger (Johnson) to really try and get at the Folkestone full-back but that didn’t really materialise.

“I don’t know if he didn’t get enough quality balls or didn’t go outside enough? It’s probably a bit of both.

“Losing 2-0 on January 1 at home, that’s definitely not what we wanted.

Report: Margate 0-2 Folkestone

“I can only praise the Margate fans. They were still singing the Margate songs at the end, getting right behind the team, and I’ve said to the boys in there that they have got to appreciate that.

“When you’re losing 2-0 at home against your rivals, sometimes, there’s not too many people still standing around.

“But full credit to those supporters. They were brilliant.”

Folkestone’s first goal came from a 17th-minute penalty in front of a crowd of 557 at Hartsdown Park after referee Kane Dempster ruled stand-in skipper Harry Hudson to have fouled winger Jordan Ababio.

While Stimson admitted he hadn’t watched the incident back before being interviewed after the game, he didn’t agree with Mr Dempster’s decision upon first viewing.

He said: “The first half was nowhere near good enough.

“I cannot, really, comment too much on the penalty decision until I actually see it back. But from where I was standing, I didn’t think it was a penalty because I didn’t think the lad had control of the ball.

“But it was given, they scored it and then, a couple of minutes later, they got a second goal.

“That wasn’t what we wanted from the first half.

“We spoke about winning the second half, trying to get back into the game. We looked a little bit more of a threat going forward but nowhere near what I would like to have seen.

“We have got to work harder to bring players in and help the squad we have got.”

Gate visit mid-table Whitehawk, 1-0 winners in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 at Horsham on New Year’s Day, this Saturday. Captain Sam Blackman returns from suspension for the match.