The visit of leaders Margate to fourth placed Hampton was billed as the Ryman League's Match of the Day, and the billing did not disappoint.

Too often these match ups are spoilt by two sides frightened of losing but not in this case, both sides went for the win and put on what is probably the most exciting and enthralling game seen at Beveree for a year or two.

The game had everything, five goals, controversial decisions, two penalties, two sending offs and a comeback from the leaders that only just fell short.

When the dust had settled the Beavers had extended their unbeaten run to 11 games and climbed up to third place, while Margate lost only their second in fifteen and had been forced off the top spot, Bromley ending the day a point in front of the two combating sides.

Hampton made one enforced change, Rob Paris coming in for the injured Marcello Fernandes. In front of Hampton's biggest crowd of the season to date, 445, both sides showed their attacking intentions.

Ian Hodges for Hampton hooked a shot over in the first minute and then Pat Sappleton and Jimmy Jackson both had to effect clearances for Margate from attempts by Hodges and Ryan Lake.

Margate also showed their attacking intentions, Hampton keeper Matt Lovett having to rush out and head clear and then Paul Abbott lashed a shot high and wide.

In the 14th minute Francis Quarm fired a long range effort just wide.

A few minutes later Marvin Bartley won a tussle for the ball Alan Inns driving a shot, again just wide of the target.

In the 21st minute Margate's Player Manager Robin Trott intercepted a pass meant for Hodges and set up an attack that ended with Abbott firing over.

In the 24th minute Quarm fired over after Lake, Bartley and Elliott Godfrey had worked a position on the left.

The match then exploded into action during a five minute spell in which Hampton scored three times without reply.

In the 26th minute Dean Wells found Barrie Matthews down the right side, Matthews was fouled, Godfrey sent in a free-kick, Hodges rose high to send a perfectly placed header beyond Charlie Mitten into the top corner (that was Hodges third headed goal in two games).

Three minutes later a surging run by Hodges was stopped in the Margate penalty area when Trott, labouring a little, stuck his left leg out and brought Hodges down.

Godfrey fired the spot kick to Mitten's left to give Hampton a 2-0 lead.

Margate's defensive woes increased in the 31st minute when Hodges was brought down as Sappleton launched himself into a challenge that collected Hodges above his thigh for a second penalty.

Godfrey again, sent the penalty to Mitten's left, 3-0 and Beveree is buzzing.

More controversy in the 39th minute, with Margate trying to re-establish themselves Justin Skinner went in over the top on Bartley and was sent off by Referee Ashvin Degnarain, who, to his credit, hadn't flinched from making any decisions so far.

The half-time whistle came as a relief to players and supporters alike with a chance to draw breath.

The second half started off with a disallowed goal. Hodges beat Mitten in the air, but was adjudged to have fouled the keeper in 'scoring'.

In the 52nd minute Godfrey fired over after Paris beat Mitten in the air.

A crisp passing movement between Bartley, Godfrey and Quarm ended with a foul on Hodges for which Trott was booked.

On the hour-mark the game burst into hectic life again. Margate's Jay Saunders and Dean Wells were both booked and then, following an almighty goal mouth scramble James Pinnock nudged the ball over the line to bring Margate within two goals of the Beavers.

There then followed a scrimmage in which Lovett was fouled, Referee Degnarain making Steve McKimm the second visiting player to be red carded, Margate having pulled a goal back were now down to nine men.

Some of McKimm's team mates were none too pleased with his actions.

Against nine men the remainder of the game should have been a formality for Hampton (some of us, though, recall an Easter home game against champions Dagenham & Redbridge, in which their nine men beat Hampton 3-2! - nothing is ever sure in football).

And just to make it interesting it was Margate who surprised everybody by scoring a second. With ten minutes to go Danny Hockton battled his way past several tackles and fired the leaders back into the match.

Hampton then had numerous chances to make the game completely safe.

Hodges headed past an upright, Dudley Gardner went close with a scissor kick, Lawrence Yaku had a shot beaten away by Mitten, Lake had a shot deflected away for a corner.

In the very last minute Glen Harris opted to shoot with a wide open Yaku screaming for the ball.

Margate shot themselves in the foot with defensive errors and a couple of bad challenges, if they had kept 11 men on the pitch then who knows how the match would have panned out.

Let the records show though that Hampton ran out 3-2 winners notching up their first ever victory over Margate and maintaining their, whisper it quietly, promotion push.

Hampton: Matt Lovett; Marvin Bartley (Glen Harris, 65), Ryan Lake, Matt Elverson, Rob Paris, Dean Wells, Alan Inns, Elliott Godfrey (Lawrence Yaku, 80), Ian Hodges, Francis Quarm (Dudley Gardner, 65), Barrie Matthews.

Subs not used: Elliott Frost & Graham Harper