Whitstable (red) take on Hythe Picture: Chris Davey

Maidstone United’s Ryman League, Division 1 South title hopes were severely dented by a 2-1 home home defeat against Faversham Town on Saturday.

In front of a 2,096 crowd at the Gallagher Stadium, the Stones dominated from the start only to fall behind to a Luke Harvey strike on 67 minutes.

Maidstone equalised 12 minutes later through a Matt Bourne own goal but Faversham snatched the winner two minutes from time through former Stones striker Danny Hockton.

Saturday's result left Maidstone three points behind leaders Dulwich Hamlet having played a game more.

Faversham’s win kept them in fourth place, two points ahead of Ramsgate who drew 1-1 at Crawley Down thanks to a 65th-minute equaliser from Warren Schulz after the Sussex side had taken the lead five minutes earlier through Gaby Odunaike.

Third-placed Hythe Town won 2-1 at Whitstable Town courtesy of two goals from skipper Dave Cook. He opened the scoring through a 13th-minute penalty and then missed another spot kick four minutes later before Micheal Everitt equalised for Whitstable just ahead of half-time. Cook, however, had the last word with an 80th-minute winner.

Folkestone Invicta kept in touch with the play-off pack by beating Horsham 2-1 at home, with both their goals coming in the first half through Johan Ter Horst and Richard Atkins. Horsham pulled one back 11 minutes from time through Charlie Farmer.

Sittingbourne edged past Eastbourne Town 1-0 in their penultimate home game before they leave Bourne Park for their new home at Woodstock Sports. The only goal was scored by Joe Taylor on 57 minutes.

Herne Bay drew 2-2 at Worthing where all the goals came in the first half. Byron Walker gave Bay a sixth-minute lead but Worthing hit back through Tom Lawley and Scott Kirkwood (penalty) before James Turner converted a Walker cross on the stroke of half-time.

In the Premier Division, Margate dropped out of the play-off spots after a 2-1 home defeat by Met Police. The Gate took the lead through Kezie Ibe in 25 minutes but Billy Crook equalised before the break and then Dave Knight struck their second-half winner.

In Division 1 North, Stuart Zanone grabbed a hat-trick to lead Thamesmead Town to a 5-0 win at Needham Market, where Chris Edwards and Rob Carter were also on target for the visitors.

And Austin Gacheru netted a hat-trick for Chatham Town in their 3-1 victory at Redbridge, with Jacob Cleaver scoring the Essex side’s solitary reply.