Chatham Town 2 Margate 1 match report: Jamie Yila and Rowan Liburd on target as Chats win Isthmian Premier derby despite Tyrone Sterling’s second-half goal for out-of-form Gate

Promotion-chasing Chatham battled to a hard-fought Isthmian Premier home derby win over severely out-of-form Margate on Saturday.

Top scorer Jamie Yila put Chats ahead in the first period and, although defender Tyrone Sterling levelled for troubled Gate after the restart, striker Rowan Liburd came up with the game’s all-important third goal in their 2-1 triumph.

It extended Gate’s winless run to 19 matches in all competitions and was an equally frustrating fifth straight defeat.

Chatham captain Jack Evans had the first opportunity at the Bauvill Stadium as his fourth-minute shot was charged down by a defender in front of another bumper crowd of 1,897.

Seven minutes later, debutant home keeper Mitchell Beeney was called into action to block winger Kadell Daniel’s cross-cum-shot.

But Beeney was then left breathing a huge sigh of relief. A back-pass slipped under his feet, only to squirm inches wide of his right-hand post to spare his blushes.

Margate manager Mark Stimson, still without a win in charge of the club since he was appointed in December, was booked on 19 minutes for his protests by referee Joshua Langley-Fineing after delays in allowing stand-in captain Harry Hudson back onto the field after treatment.

Soon after, 18-goal away striker Steve Cawley stung the palms of Beeney with a powerful drive.

But Kevin Hake’s hosts went ahead slightly against the run of play. Yila blasted beyond goalkeeper Harry Seaden in emphatic fashion with a curling shot for his 12th goal this season and his second goal in as many games.

Khale Da Costa skipped by Gate playmaker Ben Greenhalgh in the 38th minute before he whipped a dangerous right-wing delivery across goal which evaded everybody.

Greenhalgh attempted to lob Beeney from