Margate and Morecambe shared the spoils in a draw at Hartsdown Park as striker Sam Sodje netted to save the hosts, who had Jay Saunders sent off late on.

In a high-tempo opening, Morecambe started brightly with Wayne Curtis' drive forcing Iain O'Connell to hack the ball clear.

And after 23 minutes they made the breakthrough when Sodje's clearance fell kindly for Andy Gouck and the former Blackpool midfielder returned the ball with interest, rifling it back into the roof of the net from 25 yards.

Buoyed by that goal, the visitors continued to press and Adrian Rigoglioso nearly doubled the advantage when he drilled a free-kick just past the post.

But after the interval, Margate came out looking a different side and they were rewarded with an equaliser after 68 minutes when Sodje curled the ball home from Paul Lamb's cross.

With time running out, Margate stepped up the pace and looked the more dangerous side as Sodje started to cause all sorts of problems for the Morecambe defence.

But despite both going close, neither side could make the breakthrough and after Jay Saunders had been dismissed for a second bookable offence in the final minute, the hosts were happy to take a point.

Margate: Smith, Oates, Edwards, Leberl, Lamb, Keister, Saunders, McFlynn, O'Connell, Braithwaite, Sodje. Subs: Perry, Hammond, Williams, Webster.

Morecambe: Mawson, McKearney, Hill, Swan, Colkin, Drummond, Rigoglioso, Gouck, Ubershar, Thompson, Curtis. Subs: Carlton, Stringfellow, Black, Rogan, Knowles.

Referee: M Russell (St Albans).