More on KentOnline
Faversham Town at full-stretch against Maidstone United at Salters Lane on Saturday Picture: Tony Flashman
Kent clubs continue to dominate at the top end of Ryman League Division 1 South, occupying six of the top eight spots.
Maidstone United moved top of the table in midweek and they secured their position with a 4-0 derby win at Faversham Town on Saturday.
Nicky Humphrey put the Stones in front at Salters Lane, before Ian Draycott bagged a second-half double and Sam Bewick netted a fourth in the final minute. The result saw Faversham drop to fifth.
Hythe Town are up to second thanks to a 2-0 win over Whitstable Town at Reachfields.
James Everitt scored both goals on his Hythe debut, having signed from local rivals Folkestone Invicta earlier in the week.
Defeat leaves the Oystermen two points and two places off the bottom of the table.
Meanwhile, Herne Bay’s six-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt when they suffered a 4-1 home defeat against Worthing.
James Turner had put Bay in front after only 30 seconds but the West Sussex side went on to dominate. Scott Kirkwood scored twice in three minutes to turn the game before Jamie Brotherton and Chris O’Flaherty completed the rout.
One of the day’s most impressive results came at Southwood, where Ramsgate beat high-flying Crawley Down 4-1 to lift them up to eighth.
Two Ian Pulman goals and one each for Tom Chapman and Warren Schulz swept the Rams to victory against a Crawley side whose goal was scored by Fraser Logan.
Things get no better for Folkestone after they lost 2-1 at Horsham. By the time Stuart King scored from the penalty spot, Invicta were 2-0 down and Neil Cugley’s side – without a win in seven outings – could not find an equaliser. They slide to 10th, their lowest position all season.
Sittingbourne, in seventh, did not play after a waterlogged pitch forced their fixture at Eastbourne Town to be postponed.
In the Ryman League Premier Division, Cray Wanderers were beaten 3-0 at home by third-placed Wealdstone. Richard Jolly scored either side of an Alex Dyer strike for the visitors.
Cray are 10th while Margate, who didn’t play at the weekend, are sixth.
Chatham Town won at home in Ryman League, Division 1 North for the first time since the opening day of the season thanks to a goal from player-manager Kevin Watson.
Lee Hales put the Chats 1-0 up against Redbridge, who missed a penalty and then equalised on the stroke of half-time. Watson then struck for the third league game in a row to seal a 2-1 win.
Elsewhere, Thamesmead Town were beaten 3-0 at home by Needham Market. Duane Wright, Ollie Fenn and Kieron Leabon were on target for the Suffolk side, while Town drop one place to seventh.