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 a deserved half-time lead but could find no way through before the interval.

Five minutes after the restart, skipper Harry Hudson became the latest home player to be cautioned.

Gate’s top scorer Ibrahim Olutade was played through by midfielder Max Walsh shortly before the hour mark, only to slash inches wide of Perrin’s left-hand upright.

But the visitors drew first blood on 62 minutes. Aibangbee on hand to calmly lift over Wray for his 17th goal of the campaign after centre-half Lewis Knight had left an attempted back-pass short amid worsening fog.

Two minutes later, Margate penalty protests were dismissed as Garande hit the deck inside the area.

But it went from bad to worse for the hosts midway through the half, Mfula firing past Wray at the end of a sweeping right-wing move for his 15th goal this term.

With 10 minutes left, Mfula could have added a third but blasted well over.

Perrin remained alive as he diverted right-back Harrison Hatfull’s 84th-minute delivery away from goal while midfielder Josh Wisson shot straight at Wray at the other end.

Wray saved smartly from Mfula - again - following more pinball in the home penalty box and was also equal to stoppage-time shots from Aibangbee and Wisson.

Ababio did steer in fellow substitute Muwonge’s left-wing cross on 96 minutes but it proved too little, too late.

Gate No.1 Wray had replaced Reece Hobbs between the sticks after a bout of illness for Wray’s first start since Boxing Day.

Young striker Bayliss, who has joined on an initial 28-day youth loan from Gillingham, was originally due to start his first game with Margate on their substitutes’ bench.

But he was thrust into the starting line-up after Gabriel Duo pulled out ahead of kick-off with an injury.

Aibangbee came in for George Brookes in the visitors' sole switch from Tuesday’s 3-1 victory at AFC Croydon Athletic.

Margate will host Sittingbourne in a top-three match on Tuesday with Sittingbourne coach - and ex-Gate manager - Reece Prestedge getting a first-hand look at their midweek hosts.

The mid-table Oaks return to action at home against Ashford next weekend.

Margate: Wray, Hatfull, Hudson, Brand, Olutade, Allen (Atkins 68mins), Greenhalgh, Knight, Walsh (Ababio 68mins), Bayliss (Muwonge 60mins), Garande. Subs not used: Duo, Sterling.

Sevenoaks Town: Perrin, Diomande, Futa, McLeod, Howlett-Mundle, Sawyer, Aibangbee (Kileba 93mins), Wisson, Mfula, Eruotor, Jeffrey (Majekodunmi 67mins). Subs not used: McLean, Eyers, Brooke.

Referee: Dave Rowland.

Attendance: 418.