Margate 2 Stevenage Borough 1

GOALS from John Keister and Leon Braithwaite ensured the points for Margate as they came from behind to beat Stevenage and go top of the Nationwide Conference after a thrilling match at Hartsdown Park.

Stevenage started the stronger and during the opening minutes Chris Tate missed several chances. As Margate settled. it was made easier for them when the referee sent off Stevenage's Sam Sodje on 17 minutes for a foul on Leon Braithwaite which the referee felt denied the Margate man a goalscoring opportunity.

Margate, though, failed to capitalise and home keeper Charlie Mitten was called upon several times to keep the scores level with some fine saves. The start of the second half began as the first with Stevenage applying early pressure and they deservedly took the lead on 59 minutes when captain Sam McMahon curled a free-kick into the top corner leaving Mitten no chance from 20 yards out.

This seemed to inspire some life into the Margate players who replied 11 minutes later after some good play from Phil Collins, in for Mark Munday. With everyone expecting a shot, Collins played an intelligent chip to the far post and John Keister headed in from five yards.

Margate's winner came on 80 minutes when Braithwaite latched on to another Collins flick on header and his hard low shot beat the keeper at his near post.

The game finished at a frantic pace with Stevenage trying to level but Margate defended well and when keeper Mitten was fouled deep into stoppage time by Stevenage's Steve Walters it sparked a heated melee involving 14 players. The incident resulted in red card for Walters reducing Stevenage to nine men for the remaining couple of minutes.

Attendance 1,129