Lowestoft Town lost their first game in nine outings on Saturday as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of a Margate side who were largely inspired by Jefferson Louis' breathtaking brace.

Non-league journeyman Louis, who transferred to ambitious Margate recently after scoring 22 league goals in 25 appearances for Ryman Premier rivals Hendon, stole the show here with two outstanding goals that would easily grace the Match of the Day goal of the season contenders.

After firing his side's second goal, a beautiful strike into the top corner from an acute angle on the stroke of half-time, Louis went one further as he thumped an unstoppable volley into the top corner deep into the second period to kill off Lowestoft's ideas of a comeback.

On both occasions, Trawlerboys keeper Ashlee Jones didn't move a muscle.

He, like the 365-strong crowd, stood in awe of two simply superb strikes that were worthy of winning any football match.

On a frustrating day all-round for Lowestoft, they were 1-0 down after just five minutes as influential Gate skipper Jamie Stuart rose unopposed to powerfully head home the dangerous Matt Bodkin's free-kick.

The Trawlerboys regathered themselves accordingly though and were incensed when Sam Gaughran's goal-bound header midway through the half appeared to be cleared off the line with a hand.

In an end-to-end encounter, the hosts should really have been 2-0 up in the 29th minute but if Louis' strikes were contenders for goal of the season then his strike partner Daniel Wishart's awful effort has to be in contention for miss of the season, as, with the goal at his mercy, he saw his effort from inside the six-yard box bobble wide of the despairing dive of Jones.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Louis effectively killed Lowestoft's fading hopes of a win to keep pace with the Ryman Premier play-off places with a curling effort that Jones could only watch nestle into his far corner.

The Trawlerboys had chances in the second period, but strikers Jake Reed and Chris Henderson were having something of an off-day in front of goal as Reed spurned Lowestoft's best chance of the match midway through the second period.

Louis then killed off the game with a thunderbolt of a volley that arrowed into the top corner to wow the in-awe crowd.

And while it was Louis, Stuart and co who were left roaring their way into the dressing room after such a big win, frustration boiled over for the Lowestoft backroom staff as they were involved in a touchline scuffle right near the death.

A day and game to forget for the Trawlerboys.

Margate (4-4-2): Bull, Nelson, Rents, Beckles, Stuart (c), Allen, Phipp (Riviere ), Sammountis, Bodkin, Wishart (Ademeno), Louis. Subs not used: Artemi, Holloway, Wilson.

Lowestoft (4-4-2): Jones, Williams, Haynes-Brown, Gleeson (c), Gaughran, Fisk (Smith), Jarvis, J. Ainsley, Eagle (Okay), Henderson (Frew), Reed. Subs not used: Jessup, S. Ainsley.

Referee: Paul Kelly

Attendance: 365