On an emotional day at the Christopher Russell Stadium, Phoenix Sports were beaten by Margate in the Isthmian League South East Division.

There was sadness in the Phoenix camp following the passing of vice-chairman Steve House, who had served on the board for twenty-two years. Before the match started, the Phoenix board, club officials, and members of his family joined the players of both sides and a minute of reflective silence followed by a minute’s applause were observed impeccably.

Sometimes, football might take second place to off-field events, but the show had to go on and there were three points at stake. The visitors had the first goal effort when Kai Garande stabbed over with the outside of his boot before Ben Greenhalgh had a first time effort that was also too high. Jordan Ababio then got in behind the Phoenix back line but Taite Holtam was out quickly to block his shot.

Will Efambe posed problems for the Margate defence and he cut in from the right but shot beyond the far post however, the visitors were soon on the attack again and from Greenhalgh’s corner, Harvey Brand headed goalwards. Holtam appeared to have caught it but took his eye off the ball and spilled it into the path of Max Walsh. The Phoenix goalkeeper recovered quickly and made a good save from the follow up.

Another tricky Efambe run created a shooting chance for him but this time he shot wide of the near post, then Holtam was again called into action when saving from Greenhalgh having been set up by Ibrahim Olutade. Once more Efambe cut in and, this time, his shot was on target and drew a good low save out of Thomas Wray.

Eleven minutes before the half time interval, the deadlock was broken. Ababio headed across goal and Walsh hit a sweet strike into the top corner.

Perri Landolo came close to levelling when his shot was deflected wide minutes before the break.

Two minutes after the restart, Margate added a second when Olutade chased a long pass forward and slipped it beyond Holtam and into the back of the net.

Looking for a response, Richard Pingling had a shot blocked before Landolo fired over from close range after excellent bye-line work by Kiye Martin. Efambe again tested Wray who was equal to his shot and Margate continued to throw bodies on the line with blocks keeping out a Pingling shot and an Efambe follow up.

Having won a corner, the Sports sent players forward but when it was headed out as far as Brand, he went on a strong run from the edge of his own penalty area to midway inside the Phoenix half before laying it off to Ababio. He unleashed a fierce drive and Holtam did very well to beat it away.

Then came a moment of controversy when Jeff Duah-Kessie lined up a close range shot and appeared to be pulled back by Ronnie Vint on his Margate debut however, the referee deemed otherwise and waved all appeals away.

Isiah Jones found Landolo whose clever reverse pass gave Pingling an opportunity and his side-footer curled just over.

As the game moved into the latter stages, Bradley Pritchard was cautioned for sarcasm and his team knew it was not going to be their day when Duah-Kessie’s header came back out off the bar.

Results elsewhere meant that Margate remain in third place, while Phoenix dropped to the foot of the table.

Phoenix Sports: Holtam, Jones, Browne (Elliott 85), Pritchard, Turner, Grieveson (Cheeseman 57), Efambe, Landolo (Thompson 77), Duah-Kessie, Pingling, Martin. Subs not used: Clarke, Quintyne.

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: Pingling, Prichard

Margate: Wray, Hatfull, Atkins, Garande, Walsh (Riberio-Duo 70), Strling, Vint, Ababio (Muwonge 85), Brand, Olutade (Atkins 80), Davey, Greenhalgh. Unused subs: Hobbs, Peters.

Goal scorers: Walsh (34), Olutade (47)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Neil Fyfield

Assistants: Harry Cowell and Rikki Woolford

Attendance: 226