Daniel Akindayini made a dream start to his Margate career with both goals in their Vanarama National League South home win over Basingstoke.

The 20-year-old moved to Hartsdown from Brighton on a 28-day loan on Thursday and needed only 15 minutes to open his account when he turned home Freddie Ladapo's low cross.

Basingstoke equalised three minutes later through Chris Flood but Akindayini headed Gate back in front on 38 minutes and left to a rousing ovation when he was substituted in the second half.

Home keeper Chris Lewington then made sure of the points with a superb stoppage-time penalty save from Stoke substitute Liam Enver-Marum.

The result extended Gate's unbeaten home run to seven games, six of which have come since Nikki Bull's appointment as manager in December.

Bull made one change to the team which had won 2-0 against Hayes and Yeading the week before with debutant Akindayini coming in at the expense of Luke Moore who was relegated to the bench.

The ex Tottenham youngster looked lively from the start and almost worked a one-two with his new strike partner Ladapo in the opening minutes. The London-born forward also had an early shot deflected wide before breaking the deadlock five minutes later.

David Hunt's deep angled ball was well kept in by Ladapo who drove to the byline before crossing low for Akindayini to tap home.

Within three minutes Stoke had drawn level, Flood sweeping home a free kick from Tom Bird which the home side felt should not have been awarded in the first place but Gate were the dominant side and created a host of further chances before the break.

Jake Goodman was just inches away from converting another low cross from Ladapo who was himself denied by Stoke keeper Dan Lincoln after being set up by Akindayini.

Matt Johnson then saw his piledriver well turned over by Lincoln and from the corner Charlie Wassmer headed over from close range.

The second goal duly arrived on 38 minutes when Hunt's long throw was flicked on and Akindayini was able to place his header in the top corner.

The early stages of the second half saw penalty appeals at both ends - the Gate one when Ladapo went down - and Wassmer then saw his curling 20-yard shot well turned aside by Lincoln.

Debutant Akindayini gave way to Moore in the 63rd minute and Basingstoke then enjoyed their best spell of the game.

Bird missed a great chance to equalise when he drove the ball over at the far post, and then, after Gate keeper Chris Lewington had denied Reece Connolly, Simon Dunn squandered another good opening from the corner when he shot wide from the edge of the box.

Gate really needed a third goal to kill the contest but with Ladapo back to ploughing a lone furrow up front until being joined late on by Christian Jolley they struggled to create chances and there was a dramatic late twist when Wassmer was adjudged to have fouled Enver-Marum and Stoke were given a penalty.

Enver-Marum took it himself but Lewington threw himself away to his right to brilliantly beat away the spot kick as Margate moved to within a point of the play-offs.

Margate: Lewington, Wilson, N. Green, Hunt, Goodman, Wassmer, Johnson, Taylor, Ladapo,D. Green Jolley 80mins), Akindayini (Moore 63mins); Subs: Wills, Rents, Stuart.

Basingstoke: Lincoln, Case, Bird, Harper, Gasson, Deaman (Smart 46mins), Dunn, Southam, Connolly, Flood, Williams (Enver-Marum 71mins); Subs: Soares, McAuley, Howe.

Attendance: 652.