An 87th-minute goal denied Margate maximum points at big-spending Billericay in Bostik Premier on Saturday.

Gate were on course for victory after Dave Martin's strike on the stroke of half-time.

But they failed to become only the second team to beat Billericay in the league this season when Adam Cunnington headed in a late equaliser.

Former Ebbsfleet midfielder Sam Deering, playing down the left wing, was prominent early on as the hosts went in search of a fast start.

On-loan keeper Leyton Orient Sam Sargeant had already saved smartly from Ricky Modeste when Jack Evans threw himself in the way of a goalbound Deering volley in the 12th minute.

It took Margate 24 minutes to register a shot on goal, good work by Jack Evans ending with keeper Alan Julian beating away Frannie Collin's low drive.

The visitors ended the half better, with Collin prominent just playing off main striker Jordan Chiedozie.

They should have had a penalty just after the half-hour when Danny Waldren took out Sam Blackman after he volleyed over inside the area but the referee turned down their appeals.

Chiedozie then went down in the box five minutes later but there appeared to be little contact from the defender that time around.

Margate were rewarded for their efforts on the stroke of half-time. Martin cut inside from the right wing and his low left-foot shot from 20 yards found the far corner beyond the outstretched arm of Julian.

It prompted a triple substitution at the break from Billericay boss Glenn Tamplin as he called for the firepower of Billy Bricknell, Louie Theophanous and Rob Evans.

Within three minutes, Theophanous prodded wide and then Sargeant did well to turn over Matt Paine's chip.

Paine saw his low drive hit the outside of the upright on the hour mark as Billericay continued to pile on the pressure.

Captain James Rogers led by example as Margate defended well against a team who kept pushing players forward.

Margate nearly added a second on the break with 14 minutes left when Chiedoze broke the offside trap but Julian made an excellent save with his legs to turn his shot behind for a corner.

Billericay forced a series of corners in the final stage and got an equaliser three minutes from time when a right-wing cross was met at the far post by Cunnington, who headed in via the underside of the bar.

Cunnington had another header cleared off the line but Margate survived five minutes of stoppage time to take away a point and end a run of three successive league defeats.

Billericay: Julian, Kizzi, Urquhart, Swaine (Evans 46mins), Inman, Deering, Waldren (Theophanous 46mins), Paine, Pennant (Bricknell 46mins), Modeste, Cunnington. Subs not used: Robinson, O'Hara.

Margate: Sargeant, Evans, Wynter, Rogers, Friend, Swift, Haysman, Blackman (Bodkin 90mins), Chiedozie, Collin, Martin (Prescott 72mins). Subs not used: Lee, Sollis, Bray.

Attendance: 1,570.