Margate swept to a 3-0 victory at Hendon on Saturday which all but ended the home side's Ryman League Premier Division play-off hopes.

Tommy Murphy (2) and Tom Bradbrook were on target for the 'Gate while at the other end keeper Simon Overland saved a first-half penalty from Elliott Godfrey.

Cray Wanderers' promotion hopes were also dented by a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Harrow Borough. The Wands led 1-0 at the break through a first-half penalty by Tommy Whitnell awarded for handball but Harrow struck twice in the second half through Tristan Torey and Danny Buckle, and then Cray wasted the chance to earn a point when Whitnell saw his second spot kick of the game saved by Jamie Jackson.

Folkestone were the only winners from the county in Division 1 South, defeating Crawley Down 4-1 at home. Darren Marsden (2), Darren Smith and James Everitt scored for Neil Cugley's promotion-chasing side after they had fallen behind early on to a Tom Burton strike.

Hythe's slim hopes of making the play-offs suffered a blow with a 1-0 defeat at Walton Casuals, where Nathan Abery headed the only goal after 54 minutes.

Down at the bottom Sittingbourne suffered their third successive defeat, losing 4-2 at title-hunters Bognor Regis, and to make matters worse striker Bradley Spice was sent off two minutes from time along with Bognor's Stuart Axten. Bognor's scorers were Sonny Cobbs, Terry Dodd, Ben Johnson and Ashley Robinson, with the Brickies' goals coming from Elie Kayembe and Rob Lyall.

Whitstable also lost their third successive game, going down 1-0 at Eastbourne Town where Danny Curd scored the only goal after 75 minutes, while Ramsgate suffered a comprehensive 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Whitehawk for whom Jerahl Hughes (2) and Paul Armstrong were on target.

Faversham lost 2-1 at home to Walton & Hersham, who snatched the three points with an 88th-minute goal from Graeme Purdy. Dave Botterill had fired Faversham in front with an eighth-minute free kick but Walton equalised when Harry Smart converted a penalty on the half hour following a foul by Botterill.

In Ryman 1 North, Chatham Town came away from fourth-placed Grays Athletic with a creditable 1-1 draw. Lloyd Blackman put the Chats ahead on 55 minutes and Lee Flynn equalised 15 minutes from time.

Thamesmead lost 2-1 at home to Ware, who took a 2-0 lead Jordan Gill and Lewis Rolfe before James Donovan reduced the deficit with a header from a 69th-minute corner.