Lewis Taylor hit a hat-trick, including two early penalties, as Margate chalked-up a fourth successive home win in Vanarama National League South at Hartsdown Park on Saturday.

The victory, completed by Danny Green's first-half strike, maintained the Gate's 100% record at home under manager Nikki Bull and condemned the visitors to an eighth league game without a win.

Gate boss Bull made two changes, one of which was enforced after loanee Sean Shields returned to parent club Ebbsfleet. Sam Rents came in for him while the fit again Charlie Wassmer replaced Brett Johnson, who dropped to the bench.

Chelmsford's team contained two faces familiar to Kent football fans, former Dover, Maidstone and Ebbsfleet striker Billy Bricknell, and ex-Dartford defender Rory McAuley whose first contribution was to pull Taylor back in the box to concede a third minute penalty.

McAuley was booked for the foul and Taylor doubled the punishment by sending keeper Tim Brown the wrong way from the spot. Gate's new found confidence had been evident even before that as Freddie Ladapo robbed a defender and forced an excellent save from Brown in the opening seconds.

Ladapo looked full of running and it was his persistence which earned Gate a second penalty after 14 minutes. He latched onto a poor backpass by Mark Haines and then drew a foul from Dexter Peter.

Taylor again stepped up to take the kick and this time confidently beat Brown high away to his left.

Chelmsford keeper Brown - on loan from West Ham - denied Gate a third on 20 minutes when he tipped over Danny Green's fine curling effort and Gate's Ladapo had a great chance to score after robbing Lee Sawyer but his first touch was too heavy and he ended up lobbing well over.

Matthew Whichelow repeatedly looked the best outlet for the Clarets, sending in a couple of dangerous free-kicks which were cleared and he also fired wide after the ball had dropped to him on the edge of the box.

However he made no mistake on 36 minutes when team-mate Bagasan Graham's shot broke to him off a Gate defender and he blasted home from eight yards.

Hopes of a Chelmsford comeback did not last long as Gate restored their two-goal cushion three minutes before half time when Danny Green slid in at the near post to convert Taylor's low cross after some patient build-up play.

Green nearly claimed a second when he glanced a header wide just before the break and Margate rarely looked like surrendering a two-goal lead as they had done in the previous home game with Maidenhead.

Bricknell did find the net on 54 minutes but was flagged offside and when play immediately switched to the other end Gate's Nathan Green was just inches away from converting a cross at the far post.

Gate looked increasingly to consolidate rather than add to their tally and that meant the visitors had plenty of possession albeit without creating much.

Blues did have a scare on 65 minutes when Graham played the ball in, Bricknell may have got got a touch but either way the ball rebounded into the arms of Gate keeper Chris Lewington via the woodwork.

Lewington then had to make a good block from Graham but by then Gate were 4-1 in front, courtesy of Taylor's third of the afternoon on 70 minutes.

Keeper Brown was at full stretch to palm away Nathan's Green's deep cross and the ball ran to Taylor who slotted past the defender attempting to cover on the line.

The win moved Bull's side up to 11th and remarkably they are only six points adrift of fifth-placed Gosport Borough ahead of next weekend's trip to leaders Ebbsfleet.

Margate: Lewington, Wilson, Rents, M Johnson, Wassmer, Goodman, Wills, L Taylor (Moore 84mins), Ladapo (J Taylor 84mins), D Green, N Green; Subs: B Johnson, Jolley, Stuart.

Chelmsford: Brown, Girdlestone, Graham, Sawyer, Haines, McAuley, Marlow, Whichelow, Bricknell, Peter, Daley (Hunt 67mins); Subs:Gordon, Morgan, Green, Expeiteta.

Attendance: 732