Whitehawk continued their perfect start to the new year with a last-gasp winner against struggling Margate.

The Gate arrived into this afternoon without a league win since early November, and that looked to be continuing after a lightning-quick start from the hosts saw Whitehawk 2-0 up inside 15 minutes.

Charlie Lambert tucked away the first from the penalty spot after Dom Johnson-Fisher was fouled in the box, before Imran Kayani slotted coolly into the corner following a dismal defensive display.

But Margate found hope in their top-scorer, Steve Cawley, as he lashed home from inside the box with 23 minutes played, finding the corner nearly to half the deficit.

And as the match restarted for the second half Margate equalised through Cawley. A poor goal to concede from Whitehawk’s perspective; Mitch Walker couldn’t hold on to a cross as Cawley comfortably slotted home his second of the afternoon to tie the scores.

Ben Greenlagh was shown a straight red card with 12 minutes of the match remaining, as Whitehawk made their man advantage count at the death as Kayani slammed the ball home off ‘keeper Harry Seaden to earn all three points.