Croydon Athletic stormed off the bottom of the Ryman Premier League last night as Dan Moody's hat-trick saw them beat Margate 5-3 at the KT Stadium.

After a string of decent performances since Bob Langford and Dave Garland took over but no points to show for their efforts, the Rams were finally rewarded with a well deserved and impressive victory.

Both sides had early chances, with Margate having the best opportunity when Dean Grant found himself in space in the box but his diving header was way off target.

However, it was the Rams that took the lead in the 23rd minute when Margate keeper Jamie Turner failed to clear the ball in the 18-yard box and Moody latched on to the chance to put the home team one up.

Croydon’s joy was short-lived though when a similar goal at the other end of the pitch saw James Pinnock level the score for Margate in the 26th minute.

Just two minutes later a corner was flighted into the box and in the challenging bunch the Rams’ Kevin Sefaah was the unfortunate player who got the final touch with an own goal that put the visitors 2-1 up in the 28th minute.

The pace of the game never faltered and the Rams continued to produce some excellent football,with Callum Donaghey and Tom Hughes being first to everything in the air in the heart of the defence.

Danny Elgar’s well-directed strike on the half hour was just tipped over the bar by the Margate keeper and Helge Orome’s free kick was floated nicely into the penalty area and on to the head of Hughes, but again Turner in between the posts denied Croydon the goal.

In the 32nd minute, it was Moody again pouncing on to a defensive error by Margate to level the scores at 2-2.

Inspired by the goal Croydon continued to look dangerous with shots from Reggie Savage and Dorian Smith going close but Margate also had a chance when Pinnock had another long range strike go just wide of the target.

As the half drew to a close, both teams continued to look for a winner and the pace never dropped.

In the 44th minute, Moody completed his hat-trick with a well-taken goal and it was a fitting reward for the former Rams’ academy player who returned this season to bolster the attack.

After the break, Margate came out driving forward and Shaun Welford came close for the away side.

Croydon were not finished though and some great individual play by Elgar saw him weave his way through the Margate defence beating three players only for his final shot to be blocked to deny him what would have been a spectacular goal.

As the play went end to end, Adam Peck in the Croydon goal pulled off a great save from a Margate free kick in the 65th minute and again kept the home side in it five minutes later tipping the ball over the bar from more Margate pressure.

In the 73rd minute, Croydon went 4-2 up when Troy Oham-Strachan embarked on a brilliant run down the right wing, finally crossing the ball over for Elgar to finish and the Rams looked to have won the battle.

However, Pinnock for the away side had other ideas and gave the visitors a fighting chance when he pulled the score back to 4-3 in the 80th minute.

With many nervous Rams’ fans checking their watches, the home side sealed the victory when impressive Fulham loanee Courtney Harris netted in the 87th minute.

A great confidence booster for the very young Rams’ side and hopefully this will turn the season around for them, lifting them from bottom spot to 19th in the Ryman Premier.

Croydon Athletic: Adam Peck, Troy Oham-Strachan (Cody Best, 89), Helge Orome, Kevin Sefaah, Tom Hughes (Danny Dudley, 88), Callum Donaghey, Danny Elgar, Courtney Harris, Dan Moody, Reggie Savage (Stefan Joseph, 85), Dorian Smith. Subs not used: Jonathan Beale.