Margate failed to do Kent neighbours Ebbsfleet a hand on the final day of the season - and ended up bottom of National League South.

Gate needed to take a point off the visitors to deny them winning the title at Hartsdown Park, and open the door for Daryl McMahon's Fleet side.

Instead Maidenhead strolled to victory in the sunshine and Margate finished bottom after Bishop's Stortford thrashed Truro.

Maidenhead twice went close in the opening nine minutes through long-range Dave Tarpey free-kicks, but both failed to find the target.

Tarpey then forced Margate keeper Valery Pajetat into a good save at his near post.

Ebbsfleet were ahead by this stage at Stonebridge Road but news of that goal did not appear to phase the visitors.

They were technically only second in the 'live' table for seven minutes. Maidenhead went ahead on 14 minutes when Tarpey lined-up another free-kick. Everyone expected Tarpey to shoot, instead Harry Pritchard stepped up and curled a left-foot effort round the post from 20 yards.

Maidenhead captain Alan Massey escaped with only a yellow card after raising his hands in a melee following a late challenge by Margate's Jack Evans. Players from both sides came together with referee Alan Dale issuing Evans just a yellow for the foul and then adding Massey's name to his notebook.

Maidenhead continued to have the chances and while Margate saw good possession they failed to have the quality to match.

Massey headed over a Pritchard free-kick, Tarpey was twice denied after getting behind the Margate defence and Jack Parkinson - on-loan from Dover - dragged a shot wide of the upright.

Margate needed to stay in the game as long as they could in the second half but it took Maidenhead just seven minutes to double their lead - and effectively double their lead.

Just a minute after Tarpey had a shot cleared off the line by Ben Swift, the league's top scorer let fly from 20 yards and his effort was turned in by on-loan Dover midfielder Jack Parkinson.

And even the most optimistic Ebbsfleet fan knew it was game, set and match as far as the title was concerned on 59 minutes when Pritchard collected a short free-kick and his shot was turned in by Tarpey.

Maidenhead were in cruise control, the away fans did a conga round the ground and then celebrated at the final whistle as they were crowned deserved National League South champions.

It was always going to be a tough ask for Margate, and so it proved.

Margate: Pajetat, Sessegnon, Palmer, Hamilton, Foster (Brown 86mins), Swift, Evans, Rogers, Akindayini, Ngamvoulou (McFarlane 81mins), Martin. Subs not used: Miles, Fanimo.

Maidenhead: Pentney, Clerima, Steer, Parkinson (Upward 84mins), Massey, Inman, Tarpey, Comley, Marks (Cox 71mins), Mulley, Pritchard (Smith 86mins). Subs not used: Barratt, Peters.

Attendance: 1,186.