Margate's desperate run of form in Vanarama National League South continued as they slumped to a seventh successive defeat.

The loss was also their fourth in a row at Hartsdown Park and leaves them far too close to the relegation zone for comfort with just five games remaining. The first takes them to fellow strugglers Weston-super-Mare next Saturday.

Steve Cawley's 15th minute strike was all it took to earn Concord the points with Gate failing to force a single save from visiting keeper Ben McNamara.

Gate boss Nikki Bull made four changes to the side beaten 4-1 at Wealdstone on Saturday.

Player-coach Jamie Stuart was handed his first appearance of the season while Luke Moore, Christian Jolley and Lewis Taylor were all recalled - the latter after a two-game ban.

Loan signing from Colchester Dion Sembie-Ferris was given his home debut, while Matt Johnson, Greg Cundle and Corie Andrews, on loan from Crystal Palace, were dropped to the bench having all started at Wealdstone.

Missing was Brett Johnson, out for season after suffering a horrific facial injury at Wealdstone, and another notable absentee was top scorer Freddie Ladapo whose absence for the second game running fuelled speculation that he has already signed for Crystal Palace.

With a strong wind behind them Gate began positively and showing a lot more aggression than of late. They felt they might have had a penalty inside the opening seconds when Concord keeper McNarama appeared to catch Jolley but referee Carl Brook said no.

Danny Green then fired wide of the far post and Gate were looking much the better side when Concord struck from their first attack on 15 minutes.

Cawley was the scorer, pouncing on a ball in the box before finishing well with a shot which beat Gate keeper Chris Lewington low down to his right.

Lewis Taafe should have made it 2-0 for Concord seven minutes later but blazed a volley over from 12 yards, and four minutes before half-time the same player forced a fine save by Lewington who turned aside his fine curling free-kick.

Gate had plenty of the ball but struggled to find any penetration, with loan signing Sembie-Ferris unable to make much impact though both he and Jolley earned first-half bookings.

Concord almost made a spectacular start to the second half when Ben Greehalgh's wind-assisted effort landed on the roof of the net with Gate keeper Lewington back-pedalling.

Greenhalgh and Taafe looked the two best players on the pitch and it was Taafe who tested Lewington again midway through the second half with a fierce shot that the keeper beat away at his near post.

Margate introduced Palace youngster Andrews for Danny Green on 73 minutes and young Gills striker Greg Cundle also entered the fray late on but the only other chance came at the other end as Taafe crashed a shot against the top of the crossbar.

Margate: Lewington, Hunt (Johnson 82mins), N Green, Wassmer, Wilson, Stuart (Cundle 82mins) D Green (Andrews 73mins), Taylor, Jolley, Sembie-Ferris, Moore; Subs: Phipps, Rowland

Concord: McNamara, Hammond, Stephen, Cornhill, King, Easterford (sub, Lampe 53mins), Taafe, White, Greenhalgh, Cawley, Carlos (Collins 76mins); Subs: Young, Bantick, Topley.

Attendance: 469.