Scott Donnelly scored his first Margate goal as Nikki Bull's patched up side comfortably reached the FA Cup third qualifying round at Hartsdown Park on Saturday.

The former Havant & Waterlooville midfielder stroked the ball home from 15 yards in the 65th minute to seal victory and earn the Vanarama National League South club a welcome £4,500 pay day.

Michael Thalassitis had opened the scoring 10 minutes earlier, blasting home from close range after Gate top scorer Elliott Buchanan's penalty had come down and out off the crossbar.

Manager Bull was forced to make his first appearance in goal since last December after regular first choice Lewis Ward picked up a quad muscle injury against Dartford in midweek.

Alex Osborn, Matthias Fanimo, Lewis Taylor, Yado Mambo and Adam Cash were also all ruled out by injury while a mix-up over the paperwork meant loan winger Vas Karagiannis was unable to play despite being granted permission from parent club Maidstone United.

It meant the Gate boss was only able to name two substitutes and both of those were under-21s, Mitchell Laing and Harry Phipps.

On the plus side Chris Sessegnon - a target for a rival Conference South club - played and Donnelly and Aaron Tunwa both started having recently been sidelined though Donnelly's knee was heavily strapped.

Bull looked like he had never been away in goal and his side made a positive start with Thalassitis firing over in the seventh minute after a swift break, initiated by Daniel Akindayini.

By then the visitors had already suffered a injury setback with No.9 Inih Offiong limping off to be replaced by Chris Marsh. Worse was to follow for the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division side on 18 minutes when they lost another striker Tony Burnett who was replaced by Mark Coulson.

Margate enjoyed a wealth of possession in the first half although the best of their chances came in the closing 10 minutes.

Defender Brett Johnson went closest on 34 minutes when he headed Donnelly's corner against the post and just moments later Akindayini cut the ball back for Thalassitis whose shot appeared to be deflected wide although the referee awarded a goal kick.

Four minutes before half-time Gate threatened again when Buchanan's shot was well beaten away by Biggleswade keeper Ian Brown and Thalassitis, under pressure, put the rebound over.

For the visitors Robbie Parker shot well over from the edge of the box but Bull's only real moment of discomfort came just before the half-hour when Manny Parry's sliced clearance forced the Gate boss to turn the ball away at the near post.

Gate began the second half on the offensive and the lively Thalassitis had already forced a good diving save from Brown when they made the breakthrough, in the 54th minute.

Buchanan's quick feet induced a trip from Biggleswade full-back Harry Norman and the Gate top scorer took the penalty himself blasting the ball against the underside of the bar.

When the ball bounced out Thalassitis controlled it well before rifling a shot into the roof of the net for his third goal of the campaign.

Biggleswade nearly grabbed an equaliser out of nothing four minutes later when skipper Craig Daniel waltzed into the box but Bull spread himself superbly to deflect the ball wide.

That was almost their last real chance and in the 64th minute Akindayini cut the ball back from the byline and Donnelly scored his first Margate goal with a lovely cushioned volley from 15 yards.

Brown then blocked well with his legs from Akindayini and though Biggleswade started to commit more men forward it was too little too late and Bull was rarely troubled.

He did make diving saves to keep out long-range efforts from Norman and Connor Hall but it was Gate who went closest to another goal with Buchanan's header being held to his left by Brown.

Margate: Bull, Sessegnon, Tunwa, B Johnson, M Johnson, Parry, Donnelly, Moore, Thalassitis (Phipps 79mins), Buchanan, Akindayini; Subs: Laing.

Biggleswade: Brown, Norman, Perry, Hall, Hoyte, Short, Daniel, Parker, Offiong (Marsh 6mins), Burnett (Coulson 18mins), Rees (Clifton 80mins). subs: Key, Donkin, Ives, Lewis.

Attendance: 466