Margate's miserable form at Hartsdown Park continued on Saturday as they were beaten by Vanarama National League South strugglers Weston-super-Mare.

Two goals inside the opening 19 minutes from Bradley Ash gave The Seagulls the perfect start, and despite creating a host of openings Terry Brown's side were unable to undo the damage though they did hit the woodwork twice in the final five minutes.

It means Margate have still to win in front of their own fans, having drawn twice and lost four. The defeat also ended a three-match winning run for Terry Brown's men.

Manager Brown was able to name the same side for the third game running, but after a decent enough start the Gate fell behind in the 11th minute when Ash tapped home from Ben Withey's low right-wing centre.

Weston visibly grew in confidence and moments later Jake Mawford had a goalbound effort blocked with the home defence again at sixes and sevens.

At this stage the visitors looked dangerous every time they pushed forward and they doubled their advantage on 19 minutes when Mawford crossed low from the right and Ash swept home his second.

Freddie Ladapo had all of Margate's best chances before the break. The first came on 25 minutes when Luke Moore freed the big striker, who rounded keeper Luke Purnell only for his shot to be superbly blocked on the line by Ollie Barnes.

That was to be Moore's last involvement as he gave way to Solomon Taiwo just moments later and, as the Gate pressed, Ladapo had two goalbound efforts blocked from the same Taiwo corner on 34 minutes.

Three minutes later another low ball into the Weston box fell to Ladapo but again, Weston, in the form of Barnes got in to block.

Weston could have added a third on 39 minutes when David Hunt's slip left Wilson in the clear but his shot deflected over off the legs off Nikki Bull and from the corner Danny Green was forced to hack off the line.

The visitors also had the first chance of the second half as Wilson cut through the home defence but curled his effort wide.

Chances continued to fall to Ladapo and on 55 minutes Danny Green played him in but Weston keeper Purnell got down smartly to palm away his low shot.

Margate were now enjoying their best spell of the game and from the second of successive corners on the hour, there were appeals for a penalty as home sub Ryan Moss went down trying to get to Ladapo's cross at the far post.

Danny Green then had a free-kick turned over by Purnell and Kane Wills also shot straight at the keeper but for all their possession Margate could not unlock the Weston defence, in which towering centre-half Clayton Fortune was outstanding.

The closest they came to setting up an exciting finale was in the 85th minute when a shot from sub Christian Jolley thudded against the far post and then in the final minute Charlie Wassmer suffered the same fate.

Margate: Bull, Wilson Nathan Green, Hunt (Jolley, 69min),Goodman, Wassmer, Wills, Moore (Taiwo 26min), Ladapo, Danny Green, Taylor (Moss, 46min); Subs (not used):Johnson, Rents.

Weston-super-Mare: Purnell, Keary, Barnes, Pope (Byrne 65min), Edge, Fortune, Withey, Ash (Page 74min), Wilson, Mawford (Cane 82min) Llewellyn; Subs (not used): Filipov, Wring.

Attendance: 650.