A sell-out crowd watched Margate share the spoils from a four-goal Thanet derby against Ramsgate which lived up to its billing on Boxing Day.

Substitute Max Walsh netted a stoppage-time equaliser to preserve Gate's unbeaten Isthmian South East run, which now stands at 12 matches.

That came after strikes by defenders Joe Ellul and Jay Leader had sandwiched Margate captain Harry Hudson's goal.

The home side created the first chance in front of an attendance of 2,500 at Hartsdown Park. Player-boss Ben Greenhalgh played through Ibrahim Olutade but he was denied by goalkeeper Henry Newcombe, who parried to safety in the third minute.

Five minutes later, Newcombe was able to collect Margate playmaker Ben Allen’s speculative shot from around 40 yards out.

Next to go close as Gate dominated in the early stages was winger Jordan Ababio. His low strike was gathered by Newcombe and Greenhalgh then sent a free-kick just over.

A first away opportunity saw midfielder Billy Munday fire wide with a 21st-minute drive.

Four minutes later, keeper Tom Wray tipped wide Lee Martin’s curling shot before Alfie Paxman got to the loose ball in an offside position.

Tom Clifford struck inches wide of an outstretched Wray’s left-hand post shortly after the half-hour mark, with the away team coming into the match more.

Midfielder TJ Jadama twisted and turned his way into the area in the 38th minute and crossed for Clifford at the back post, only for Wray to make a vital save for Margate.

Five minutes later at the other end, Allen sent another free-kick in a good area inches over the crossbar.

It was Ben Smith’s side who went ahead in the final seconds before the break. A Roarie Deacon corner was cleared only as far as experienced defender Ellul and he blasted through the crowd to find the net via a deflection for his first goal this season.

Four minutes after the restart, Paxman flashed a ball across goal following a flowing Ramsgate move.

A flash-point resulted in midfielder Deacon being booked after an off-the-ball brawl threatened to break out.

The hosts equalised in the 55th minute. A left-wing free-kick allowed Lewis Knight and fellow centre-back Harry Hudson to combine, with the latter heading home at the far post for his second goal this season.

They were level for little more than two minutes, however, as midfielder Munday won a header from a corner and defender Leader made it 2-1 to the visitors. It was his second goal of their campaign.

Olutade went close to a second equaliser in quick succession as his snapshot went wide of Newcombe’s left-hand post.

With 12 minutes left, Olutade again blasted over on the turn after good right-wing play by Greenhalgh before, shortly after, Wray parried Paxman’s strike.

The Rams’ supporters employed some interesting time-wasting tactics in the 85th minute, which saw a corner flag taken out and Hudson had to put one in its place.

Home left-back Kai Garande struck Newcombe’s side-netting in the second of six minutes of second-half injury time.

But a minute later, third-placed Gate snatched a point.

Newcombe tipped against the upright from Walsh’s curling shot. Fellow substitute Atkins was on hand to make sure from yards out despite suggestions of offside but, after plenty of debate, the goal was given to midfielder Walsh.

The teams had already met at Southwood in the Kent Senior Cup in front of a crowd of 1,802, Gate keeper Wray saving two Taylor penalties before Olutade converted a stoppage-time spot-kick in Margate’s 1-0 win.

But this was a first league meeting between the teams in more than 15 years and a first Boxing Day derby between the sides at Margate since 1972.

The hosts made one change to their starting line-up from last weekend’s 2-0 home win against Steyning Town Community. Greenhalgh returned to replace Atkins as Atkins dropped to the substitutes’ bench.

Munday and Benny Bioletti came in for Josh Ajayi and Lewis Gard for the visitors.

There was also a return to the Ramsgate squad for the versatile Connor Wilkins, who was an unused substitute.

Margate are at East Grinstead on Saturday, the second-placed Rams at home against AFC Croydon on the same day.

Margate: Wray, Hatfull, Hudson, Ababio (Atkins 80mins), Brand, Olutade, Allen (Walsh 69mins), Greenhalgh, Knight (Sterling 95mins), Davey, Garande. Subs not used: Duo, Muwonge.

Ramsgate: Newcombe, Deacon (Barnes 80mins), Ellul, Leader, Clifford, Munday, Martin (Gard 80mins), Jadama, Bioletti (Ajayi 85mins), Paxman, Taylor. Subs not used: Wilkins, Judd.

Referee: Kane Dempster.

Attendance: 2,500.