Staines' second-half slump

The visitors had the first chance when Marc Charles-Smith stretched Margate keeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens into making a save under his crossbar.

Richard Butler then played a ball into the box and Staines had a decent shout for a penalty as Margate captain Steve McKimm seemed to handle, before Dwain Clarke played a tantalising ball just beyond the far post, following a clever pass from debutant Kerem Bashkal.

The former Crystal Palace man looked very impressive in his first full game for the senior side, and was involved with most of Staines' best moments in a good first half for the visitors.

Charles-Smith again went close, forcing a defender to head the ball out for what should have been a corner, but midway through the half, the home side started to get back into the game.

Jimmy Jackson returned to the field after receiving treatment, and delivered a fine ball to McKimm, who could only blaze over James Courtnage's bar.

Then James Pinnock had two decent chances, but was called fractionally offside for the first, and handled the second.

However, Staines steadied themselves to come back at their hosts, with Bashkal sending a speculative effort just too high.

Then Butler showed great strength and tenacity to worm past the keeper, but was forced wide in the process, and could not quite pick out a yellow shirt in the middle.

Butler picked up a yellow card for dissent when throwing the ball to the ground at a doubtful throw-in decision.

Another handball, this time against Robin Trott, gave Clarke the chance to send a free kick into the box; although this was cleared, it fell to Adrian Toppin, but unfortunately he failed to make a firm connection.

Margate then went forward, pinging the ball back and forth across the area several times, before James Courtnage coolly collected.

They then went close from a free kick, but McKimm drove inches over.

Staines ended the half strongly, with a good move involving André Scarlett, Clarke and Butler coming to nought, and then Butler setting up Charles-Smith for a good shot which drew and excellent diving save from Chalmers-Stevens.

In stoppage time, the referee was faced with a dilemma, as Chalmers-Stevens went up for a high ball and made the catch firmly in both hands, but as he came down, he found that he was hugging Charles-Smith.

An impasse seemed to have developed, but the referee was relieved to spot a way out when the Staines forward laid a hand on the ball.

If Staines had been the better side in the first half, that situation was reversed after the break.

Although the half began badly for Margate - Mark Goodfellow collecting a booking for fouling Butler, Staines were soon on the back foot, and Courtnage was kept occupied with several routine saves.

Staines were awarded a penalty in somewhat fortunate circumstances on 63 minutes, when Ryan Peters tried to clear Gareth Risbridger's ball into the box, but dliced the ball upwards and then batted it down with his arm.

Perhaps he could have waited for gravity to take its course - but the referee judged that, had he done so, he would have been pressurised by an old gold shirt, and thus gained an advantage.

After a short delay while Trott protested a second unfortunate penalty against his team in a week, Dave Sargent kept his cool to drive home the spot kick on 64 mins.

Staines, however, failed to hang onto their lead for more than two minutes, when Rob Haworth helped on a Dean Standen corner from the left towards James Pinnock at the far post, and his powerful shot took a slight deflection before nestling into the net.

A momentary flare-up between Nugent and Standen resulted in a pair of yellow cards, before Butler carved out a chance to restore Swans' advantage.

He rode two stiff challenges to power his way into the box, but could only find the side netting. At the other end, Staines had Courtnage to thank for a flying save to deny Pinnock, whose close range volley looked to be goalbound.

However, it was a far less promising position - a speculative 75th minute effort from way out on the left by Jimmy Jackson - which did put Margate in front, as the ball swerved into the far top corner of the net.

Staines reshuffled their pack, bringing on McDonald and Duku to vary their options going forward, but gaps developed at the other end, and a minute into stoppage time, Margate made it 3-1. A great pass by McKimm picked out Pinnock, and he guided his shot just under the bar.

Staines are at Folkestone Invicta tonight (Monday) and host AFC Hornchurch on Saturday Margate: Chalmers-Stevens, Peters, Josephs, Martin, Goodfellow, Trott, McKimm , Standen, Pinnock, Haworth, Jackson; unused Corbishley, Bowles, Quain, Morris, Smith.

Staines: Courtnage, Nugent, Sargent, Gordon (Duku 85), Flitter , Scarlett (McDonald 76), Bashkal, Toppin, Butler, Charles-Smith, Clarke (Risbridger 60); unused Thomas, Phillips (gk).

Ref: C Hatzidakis (Eltham); ARs Baker, Macey (both Kent); est att 460.