Hampton & Richmond Borough paid the price for allowing Margate back into the game after half time to end up conceding a last-minute winner at the Beveree.
Both teams looked to be trying to play some attractive football in the summer sunshine, on a Beveree surface that looked in fine condition, and you could see the midfield cohorts enjoying that surface.
Joe Vines had fired a tame shot at Rodney Chiweshe early on, Tommy Brewer gathered a pass from Matt Reece, but he could not find the target with his shot.
On 14 minutes, Brewer created a fine chance for himself; coming in from the right, he beat three defenders as he ran parallel to the edge of the box, shooting from about 20 yards. However a deflection took it wide.
Margate winger Matt Bodkin was proving already to be a handful for Hampton's right back, Anson Cousins, and on 18 minutes, he broke through the defence and into the clear.
His shot was stopped by Chiweshe, Charles Ademeno tried to prod the ball into the net, but in the scramble, the danger was cleared away.
Hampton were still pushing, and on 25 minutes, they got their reward.
James Simmonds played Charlie Moone into the box, but the striker was knocked over by a clumsy challenge from Gate captain, John Beales, for a penalty.
Moone picked himself up and slotted the spot kick past Margate keeper Craig Holloway's right hand, just inside the post.
The Beavers now sought to increase their advantage, and on 34 minutes, it looked as though they would.
Matt Reece managed to get to the line and hit a cross into the box.
Moone looked to have only a simple tap in but a Margate defender flew across in a despairing last ditch tackle to block the shot and clear.
The second half saw Margate take the game by the scruff of the neck and shake the Beavers out of it.
Disappointed: Beavers' Tommy Brewer at the final whistle SP78323
The visitors increased the pressure, leaving the Beavers to have to resort to counter attacks, and on one of these, James Simmonds found himself in space on the edge of the area, but his attempt on goal screwed wide by some distance.
The game now pretty much belonged to Margate, and chances for Hampton were few and far between.
Vines is not normally noted for his attacking runs for Margate, but on 69 minutes, he made good ground on the right, his cross into the box was perfectly placed for Gate striker Phil Walsh to nod home the equaliser from close range, giving Chiweshe no chance.
It was increasingly looking like the point might well be shared, and Chiweshe was able to deny Ademeno with just 10 minutes left as Margate cranked up the pressure even further.
Stoppage time was on the horizon when Lance Azeez tormented Cousins on the Hampton right for one last time, creating some room, the forward's cross looped to the far post where Bodkin applied the finishing touch from close quarters, scoring a rare headed goal.
Not this time: Darren Powell, far left, and Paul Barry, far right, will have to wait a little longer for their first competitive win in charge of the Beavers SP78323
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