Margate 2 St Albans City 3

MARGATE'S fight-back came too late to avoid a third successive Nationwide Conference home defeat against in-form St Albans City at Homelands in Ashford on Tuesday night.

Gate were a goal down inside the opening minute. They trailed 2-0 just past the half hour mark and were 3-0 down with 21 minutes left.

Two goals by substitute Eseyas Yhdego proved the only high-spot of a night for Chris Kinnear's struggling Thanet club who face the real prospect of a second successive relegation.

The defeat, Margate's fifth in eight matches, leaves them in the bottom three, and fellow strugglers Newport County could move three points clear tonight if they beat FA Trophy semi-finalists Bishop's Stortford.

Tom Davis put St Albans ahead after 40 seconds, and Gavin Tomlin headed the Hertfordshire side further in front on 32 minutes. Kezie Ibe's close range effort earned St Albans their third, as he profited from another defensive mix-up.

The visitors were struggling a month ago themselves but this win was their fifth in six games, a sequence that has lifted them out of danger.

Margate are at home to Dorchester on Saturday, with their final three games away to Eastbourne Borough and Havant and Waterlooville, before completing their season at home against Stortford on April 23.