Leaders Ramsgate suffered defeat for the first time in Isthmian South East since the opening day of the season on Saturday. Ben Smith’s Rams were beaten 4-2 at Lancing despite heading into the break ahead.
Ironically, their only other defeat in the league so far this season was by the same scoreline at Sevenoaks in August. It ended a run of five successive league wins for Ramsgate.
It had seemed to be a dream debut for new signing Jack S Paxman - formerly of Maidstone, Ebbsfleet and Eastbourne - when he scored after just two minutes.
Lukas Franzen-Jones put Lancing level but leading scorer Joe Taylor restored Ramsgate’s lead on 36 minutes. Three goals in 11 second-half minutes proved decisive as George Taggart, debutant Ben Pope and Charlie Bennett did the damage.