Lewis Taylor gave his Margate team-mates a dressing room apology after his last-minute penalty miss against Bishop's Stortford in Vanarama National League South on Saturday.

Taylor's successful 84th minute spot kick cancelled out Eliot Buchanan's second-half opener for Stortford, but when handed the chance to repeat the trick six minutes later the Gate midfielder fired over.

The penalty miss was Taylor's first in senior football and afterwards he admitted he was hugely disappointed not have turned one point into three for his team-mates.

Taylor, who had tucked away two penalties on his way to a hat-trick in the previous home game against Chelmsford, explained: "I'm well gutted. Obviously I scored one and we managed to get a point but I feel that's two points dropped really.

"Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a great game. I don't think we were great today and they were the better side for the first 70 minutes but for the last 15 to 20 minutes there was only one winner.

"It wasn't pretty but we put in a great shift which is what we've been doing week in week out and to be honest from a personal point of view I just feel I've let the boys down a little bit.

"That's the first one I've missed in men's football that I can remember so that's why I'm even more gutted.

"I mean it when I say it the boys put an absolute shift in and to not give them the three points is a bit disappointing, and the gaffer as well. He's been absolutely unbelievable and I feel I've let the whole squad down really but there we go."

Taylor, who has five goals from this last three games, said he tried to put the second penalty in the same place as the first but just got a bit underneath it.

He added: "I went high again which I did for the first one. I just thought I'm going for the same spot and I obviously just hit it a bit too hard so there we go.

"If the keeper saves it you have to take that but the keeper didn't save this one so I have to look at myself and think I've got to score that."

Gate boss Nikki Bull jumped to Taylor's defence, saying the player had nothing to be sorry for and he backed him to come good from the spot again.

He said: "I think looking at it from my point of view, the keeper went early and decided he was going, and Lewis felt he needed to give it a bit more to make sure it was right in the corner and he missed.

"Lewis came in and apologised at the end but that boy has got nothing to apologise for. He's been a credit to the club since he's been here and next week if we get a penalty he'll take responsibility again and he'll go again."