Margate's long losing streak continued as Steve Watts' first game in charge ended in defeat to fellow Vanarama National League South strugglers Whitehawk.

The 31-year-old, appointed on Friday following Nikki Bull's resignation late Thursday night, inherited a side which had lost 16 in a row and he was unable to arrest the slide as the visitors struck twice in four second-half minutes.

The Hawks, who had not won themselves for 14 matches, broke the deadlock through Josh Passley 11 minutes after the break and doubled their lead when skipper Glen Southam struck on the hour.

The result left the Blues entrenched at the bottom and needing a miracle in the final 12 games to avoid relegation.

They have not won since beating Hemel Hempstead 2-1 at Hartsdown in October, and have gone 11-and-a-quarter hours without scoring. Their last goal was against Welling in a 5-1 defeat on New Year's Day.

Gate's side showed two changes from the side beaten late on at East Thurrock in midweek.

Midfielder James Rogers, who joined from Maidstone on Friday, came in as skipper, with winger Ira Jackson returning to the side as he starts his second spell on loan from Dover.

Dean Morgan and Jerson Dos Santos dropped to the bench where they were joined by new signings, Joe Morrell, a 20-year-old midfielder from Bristol City, and 30-year-old former Ebbsfleet defender Aiden Palmer.

Whitehawk, just two places above Margate, were on a desperate run of form themselves but they made the brighter start enjoying more of the possession without creating too much.

They forced three early corners and from the second it looked like Gate defender Jake Phillips was fortunate to get away with a tug in the box which went unnoticed.

Their best chances before the break both fell to Danny Mills. The first came in the 26th minute when a defensive slip by Jake Phillips let in Mills but home keeper Lewis Ward spread himself brilliantly to block from close range.

Eight minutes later Mills got in behind the home defence but dragged his low shot wide when most would have backed him to score.

Gate created little of note in the first half but had a half-chance on 18 minutes when the ball broke to Daniel Akindayini but he failed to connect properly and the visitors cleared.

The home side's most promising moment came on 39 minutes when Chris Sessegnon played a great ball to Jackson, who cut inside but curled well over.

The breakthrough finally came 10 minutes into the second period and it was no surprise that it was the visitors who went ahead.

No one closed down wing back Josh Passley as he advanced to the edge of the area before despatching a low angled shot into the far corner.

Gate boss Watt responded immediately by replacing Ryan Richefond and Reece Connolly with Morrell and Dos Santos, but within three minutes of the changes, Whitehawk increased their advantage.

Ibby Akanbi cut the ball back from the byline and skipper Southam was on hand to ram the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

There was no way back for Margate after that and their day was best summed up when they got a free-kick in a promising position late on only for Jackson to blaze over.

Whitehawk closed the game out well and almost added to their lead 10 minutes from time when Ward had to save well to his left from substitute Mike West.

Margate: Ward, Sessegnon, Adelakun, Rogers, Moore-Azille, Phillips, Jackson, Bennett, Connolly (Dos Santos 57mins), Richefond (Morrell 57mins), Akindayini (Morgan 82mins); Subs: Palmer, Pajetat

Whitehawk: Covolan, Passley (Shepherd 65mins), Harding, Favarel, Aldavert, Mbongou, Torres, Southam, Mills, Akanbi (West 65mins), Osborn; Subs: Hyde, Hobbs, Howlett-Mundel.

Attendance: 504.