Ryman League round-up
Published: 10:17, 16 April 2012
Folkestone's Stuart King comes away from two Sittingbourne players with the ball
Maidstone United's chances of joining Folkestone Invicta in the end of season promotion play-offs in Ryman League Division 1 South were boosted on a dramatic Saturday afternoon.
The Stones began the game outside the play-off places, but a 3-0 win over Chipstead took them back up to fifth, above Worthing, who lost at Ramsgate.
Shaun Welford and Sam Bewick put Maidstone 2-0 up inside 20 minutes and Alex Waugh sealed it with a third in stoppage-time.
The third was all-important as the Stones remain above sixth-placed Godalming Town by a single goal's difference after the Surrey side's 5-2 win over Crawley Down.
Worthing are now seventh and three points behind Maidstone, though with a better goal difference, after going down 4-3 at Ramsgate in new boss Tim Dixon's first game after replacing Jim Ward at the helm.
Aaron Quain and Ian Pulman put the Rams 2-0 up inside half an hour and Warren Schulz converted a penalty after Glen Woodburn was sent-off moments later to put Ramsgate firmly in charge.
However Luke Gedling pulled one back on 72 minutes and Mike Huckett set up a tense finale with eight minutes remaining, and though Michael Yianni made it 4-2 on 89 minutes, there was still time for Hackett to net a penalty as the Rebels sought an unlikely point.
Fourth-placed Invicta just need a point at Chipstead next weekend to confirm their play-off berth after a convincing 4-1 win over Sittingbourne.
James Everitt headed the hosts in front inside 20 seconds and grabbed his second on 16 minutes, with Stuart King adding a third two minutes later.
King saw a penalty saved by Adam Woodward soon after that but Josh Burchell grabbed the fourth after the break before Calum McGeehan fired a consolation on the hour.
Bourne are all but safe with two games left, but still need a point to guarantee safety after Burgess Hill and Whyteleafe - both six points behind them - lost.
Hythe Town overcame Burgess Hill 2-0 with two first-half headers from Dave Cook, who spurned the chance of a hat-trick by missing a late penalty.
Whitstable Town continued their good form with a 2-0 win in a derby clash at Faversham Town.
Marc Cumberbatch headed the Oystermen ahead 20 minutes from time as boss Justin Luchford returned to his former club with James Morrish sealing the win seven minutes from time.
Cray Wanderers' play-off hopes in Ryman League Premier Division were hit by a 1-0 defeat at home to Lewes, who leapfrogged them into fifth place.
Wands fell to eighth thanks to Ian Draycott's header on 22 minutes, but are just three points behind the Sussex side and have a game in hand.
Margate went 13th but were pegged-back by already relegated Tooting & Mitcham to draw 1-1.
Matt Bodkin's free-kick put Gate ahead after 30 minutes but the hosts replied through Lee Hall after the break.
Thamesmead Town came from behind to overcome promotion-chasing AFC Sudbury 2-1 in Ryman League Division 1 North.
Danny Kerrigan cancelled out a first-half Sudbury opener 19 minutes from time and Chuck Duru turned the game on its head on 83 minutes for 10th-placed Mead.
Chatham Town suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Waltham Abbey to fall to 15th, the only goal arriving from Louis Bristow just after the hour.
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Alex Hoad