A major incident resulting in the closure of the M2 caused the kick-off for this match to be put back to 8.45pm by which time the Robins only had 12 players at the ground.

Add to that the absence through suspension of John Cartledge and Ali Jabbie for a fixture against the team needing three points to go top of the table and the scale of the task facing Carshalton on the evening can be appreciated.

But football rarely shows respect for such adversity and the Robins contrived to put on a courageous display and at the late conclusion of the game they will have felt justifiably aggrieved not to have left Lansdowne Road with a point their performance deserved.

After the initial sparring, Carshalton really should have taken a shock lead when a corner from the left by Mark Marshall picked out Adrian Toppin.

The captain's header had the power but sadly not the direction and somehow went the wrong side of the upright with Stevens beaten.

Play moved to the other end and a rasping drive by the dangerous Danny Hockton was tipped over by Howe.

The home side took control for much of the remainder of the first half and turned on the sort of controlled football you would expect from a team with title aspirations, but the Robins defence were in no mood to give anything away without a struggle and Graves and Harwood proved to be a formidable barrier against anything Margate could throw at them.

A succession of corners were somehow cleared and goalkeeper Howe, under pressure, was able to get a hand to a close range effort before the ball was kicked off the line.

Rob Haworth got himself on the end of a free kick by Simon Cooper for the Robins, but with little room to manoeuvre his shot went over when the Robins eventually counter attacked.

Carshalton are often slow starters in the second half, but on this particular evening they may have sensed the nervousness of their opponents and a move involving Haworth and Marshall ended with Marshall miskicking when in a good position.

But Carshalton were battling well in midfield and unsettling Margate and full back Simon Cooper was starting to find space on the right to prompt a series of attacks as well as hitting a shot from distance that clipped the crossbar.

Carshalton were back in the game and their cause was strengthened when Margate midfielder Paul Abbott was red carded by the excellent referee for elbowing Robin's debutant left back Jeremy Williams.

A strong run from midfield by Jerome Maledon ended with Stevens relieved to push his low shot away for a corner and the Robins looked to have the edge.

A moment of magic with ten minutes remaining, however, decided the destination of the points when Margate's Hockton swept a brilliant pass across the field and into the path of Greg Oates whose shot gave Howe no chance.

Even then the Robins finished strongly.

A good run to the bye line by substitute Hamici ended with a pass to Luke Fontana, but it wasn't the striker's night and his snap shot from close range was saved at the expense of a corner.

The final action of the game was another superb shot from outside the area by Cooper which looked to be on its way in only for Stevens to make another save.

Any neutrals would have agreed that Carshalton were worthy of a point on the night from an enjoyable game and as one home supporter was heard to say on his way out "we got away with that one".

Robins: Howe, Cooper, Williams (Hamici), Graves, Harwood, Maledon, Watts, Toppin, Fontana, Haworth, Marshall.

Next games - Saturday, February 10 Ashford Town v Carshalton Athletic Ryman Premier Division - Kick off 3pm Tuesday, February 13 Carshalton Athletic v Horsham Ryman Premier Division - Kick off 7.30pm Saturday, February 17 Carshalton Athletic v Margate Ryman Premier Division - Kick off 3pm