It’s not the kind of habit any team wants to get into, but for the second week running, the Bay failed to capitalise on an early lead, this time at home to Margate.

One of the toughest fixtures on the calendar saw the hosts go ahead in the eighth minute when Joseph Tooth chased down a ball that appeared to be trickling safely into the goalkeeper’s hands. Tooth had other ideas, nicking the ball from the keeper’s grasp before finishing into an empty net from a tight angle.

It continued Tooth’s fine form in front of goal following his brace in Herne Bay’s cup defeat away at Sittingbourne last weekend.

But the lead lasted just four minutes as Margate equalised from close range after the ball fell loose inside the penalty area. It was a deflating moment for the home side, whose tendency to concede soft goals reared its head once again.

The remainder of the half produced few chances for either side, with only a rash challenge on Jacob Seager from Margate’s striker – who was allowed to play despite receiving a red card for violent conduct in their previous game – threatening to spark the contest into life.

Just a few minutes into the second half, Margate took the lead. A clever feint and flick deceived Klay Bubb before an emphatic finish gave Bay goalkeeper Ollie Anderson no chance.

From that point onwards, the game became something of a damp squib, with neither side able to create many meaningful chances or take firm control of proceedings.

Frustratingly for the hosts, the referee also failed to clamp down on a series of poor challenges from the visitors, including an apparent forearm to the head of Dexter Greene.

The final incident of the match only added to Bay’s sense of injustice As Margate broke down the right-hand side of the penalty area, Jacob Seager tracked back and appeared to execute a perfectly timed tackle, only for the referee to point to the spot.

The resulting penalty was missed, and the referee immediately blew the final whistle on a game that Bay will feel slipped away from them once again.