Manager Steve Watt was full of admiration for his players after Margate's 1-0 home win over Bostik Premier leaders Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday.

Kane Haysman's 85th minute strike proved enough to settle the contest and send the visitors to their first defeat since December 2.

The win extended Margate's unbeaten sequence to three games - a run that began with a 1-1 draw away to title favourites Billericay - and they remain eighth well within sight of the play-offs.

Watt said: "We did our homework and I think in terms of the game plan, the players carried it out to the absolute T.

"We knew they (Dulwich) would come at us but they had to change their shape because of how we set up. They adjusted things slightly and I had to counter that.

"It was a good little tactical battle in the first 20 minutes but as the first half went on I thought we were the better team. We started to control the ball and create more chances.

"Sam Blackman had a great chance, it was a free header, six yards out, middle of the goal and he should have scored.

"We should have come in 1-0 up but at half-time there was not much to be said, we just reinforced the message to the players. We knew that if we kept our discipline, a chance would come

"It was a fantastic performance and more importantly a fantastic result. I think we deserved the three points mainly because of how much we frustrated them.

"They have scored a lot of goals so to have restricted them to just one real chance, which was our fault, was a great achievement.

"I'm over the moon with the players and their application. Over the last three games, which have been three tough games, we've picked up seven points and we're unlucky not to have nine (Gate led 1-0 at Billericay before conceding a late equaliser).

"If you'd have offered that to me before that run of games I would have happily taken it."

Watt admitted he was pleased for 22-year-old matchwinner Haysman, who he said, had been due a goal.

He added: "Before the game I was just thinking as I was looking through our goalscorers that it's been a while since Kane has scored and then he popped up today, I'm delighted for him.

"For his work over the past few weeks he definitely deserved that goal."

Margate play the third in a run of five successive home matches against Leatherhead on Tuesday and Watt hopes to bring in a new full-back by then.

Keeper Lenny Pidgeley was again part of the squad on Saturday although not named among the substitutes and Watt is hopeful he will be able to return once Sam Sargeant's loan spell from Orient expires.