Margate 1 Sevenoaks Town 2 match report: Gate suffer first Isthmian South East loss this season as Jordan Ababio’s stoppage-time goal proves in vain after Jefferson Aibangbee and Warren Mfula find net

Dominant Sevenoaks inflicted promotion-chasing Margate’s first home Isthmian South East defeat of the season on Saturday.

Top scorer Jefferson Aibangbee put the away team ahead after a goalless opening 45 minutes and striker Warren Mfula doubled their advantage to complete a quickfire double salvo.

Jordan Ababio did get a late goal for Ben Greenhalgh’s lacklustre side but they finished the game empty-handed as it ended 2-1.

The loss also ended Gate’s 15-game unbeaten league streak as their west Kent visitors maintained their perfect record from three 2025 fixtures so far.

Marcel Nimani’s men instantly got on the front foot and saw third-minute penalty appeals turned down at Hartsdown Park by referee Dave Rowland as Mfula went down under a challenge by left-back Kai Garande.

Three minutes later, Sevenoaks keeper Jordan Perrin prevented defender Kevin Diomande from heading a free-kick into his own net thanks to a fine fingertip save.

Perrin was again in action to gather Garande’s effort after good left-wing play in front of a crowd of 418, who had braved the elements on a cold and foggy afternoon.

The 18th minute saw Margate player-boss Greenhalgh in the right place to clear Ryan Sawyer’s header off the line in fairly straightforward fashion from a James Jeffrey corner before the recalled Tom Wray parried a curling shot from midfielder Aibangbee.

Debutant Josh Bayliss then collected the match’s first caution from Mr Rowland as he put in a late challenge on Aibangbee.

Team-mate Ben Allen joined him in the book on 37 minutes for booting the ball away, having been ruled offside, before the forward curled just wide soon after.

Sevenoaks pushed forward in five minutes of first-half injury time for what would probably have been