Hat-trick hero Stefan Payne ensured Faversham went top of the Southern Counties East Premier Division with a home win over fellow promotion-chasers Punjab United on Saturday.

Striker Payne netted two in the first three minutes and, although Youssef Bamba replied for the away team shortly before half-time at Salters Lane in front of a crowd of 324, he got his third in the 87th minute from the penalty spot.

It marked a positive end to a tough week for the Lilywhites, chucked out of the FA Vase four days earlier, as on-loan Gillingham keeper Taite Holtam got the nod ahead of Lewis Briggs, who had briefly been Faversham’s first-choice having come through from the under-23s.

Two-goal Trevor McCreadie helped steer Tunbridge Wells to a 3-0 home triumph against Whitstable.

Attacker Festos Kamara broke the deadlock before striker McCreadie bagged a brace, his second coming from the penalty spot.

Experienced hitman Dean Grant was another player to claim a brace as Hollands & Blair came from behind to win 3-1 at second-bottom Welling Town.

Kweku Ansah put Welling Town in front but they were reduced to 10 players and Grant equalised in first-half stoppage time.

Substitute Harvey Welford set him up for his second, and although Grant missed a penalty and a chance for his hat-trick, Welford did seal the victory in the 88th minute.

Player-of-the-match Ben Chapman marked his 200th Deal Town performance in style in their 2-1 home win against third-placed Corinthian.

With home players wearing black armbands in remembrance of director and fixture secretary Colin Adams after his death was announced in the week, a minute’s silence was held before the game at the Charles Sports Ground, which was played in front of a crowd of 475.

Jamie Billings put the away side ahead in the first half but striker Aaron Millbank converted a 55th-minute penalty, won by Tom Chapman, and midfielder Chapman headed in left-back Jack Penny’s cross at the death.

Snodland earned an impressive 3-1 success at home to second-placed Glebe, who are behind Faversham on goal difference but have played a game more.

A back-heel effort by goal-scoring defender Taylor Fisher put the hosts ahead and that was followed by a stunning strike from Ed Mbango.

Forward Malachi Hudson restored Snodland’s two-goal advantage on 64 minutes - three minutes after namesake Malachi Morris had struck for Glebe.

Erith Town moved into the play-off places thanks to a 5-1 home triumph over Rusthall.

Harry Taylor got a late brace, one a penalty, after Ladic Melconian, Henry Arnold and James Dyer found the target in the first period. Tarik Ibrahim’s Rusthall goal proved to be a mere consolation.

Four goals were evenly shared between hosts VCD and Lordswood.

Josh Reid and in-form striker James Jeffrey netting for the Medway club, Afryie Gyimaha and Lee Friend responding for the Vickers.

Will Johnson-Cole scored in the first half for Bearsted through a 25-yard lob but Stansfeld earned a 1-1 draw, as they equalised after the restart.

Herne Bay moved up to third in Isthmian South East thanks to a 2-0 triumph against Phoenix Sports at home.

Steve Lovell’s side had to be patient but in-form frontman Michael Salako broke the deadlock on 78 minutes and wideman Gil Carvalho doubled their tally four minutes later in front of a 363-strong crowd.

Sittingbourne are one place and two points behind them, having twice been pegged back at Sevenoaks.

Attacker Chris Harris gave the Brickies the lead and, although defender Karn Miller-Neave equalised for the hosts, midfielder D'Shaun Theobalds nearly immediately put Sittingbourne back in front.

But Fumnaya Shomotun struck in the 74th minute to ensure Harry Hudson’s troops got a share of the spoils.

A nightmare afternoon saw Ashford thrashed 6-0 at East Grinstead - with four-goal Max Walsh to the fore.

Hythe went down 1-0 at Erith & Belvedere. Chris Dickson got the only goal in the last 10 minutes of normal time.

Folkestone squandered a lead as they lost 2-1 at Concord in Isthmian Premier.

Substitute Jordan Ababio scored shortly before the hour mark, almost instantly after coming on, but the hosts swiftly levelled and got an 83rd-minute winner.

Cray Wanderers were unable to mark boss Neil Smith’s 52nd birthday with a win at Kingstonian.

They lost 3-0 in front of a crowd of 190 and they’re fourth-bottom in the table with just six points from eight games.