Herne Bay look for a way through during their 2-1 victory over Horsham

Margate missed the chance to put pressure on the Ryman League, Premier Division leaders when they were held to a 1-1 draw by basement club Thurrock.

Mark Stimson’s side led 1-0 at half-time but Gate equalised through Tommy Murphy four minutes after the restart.

Elsewhere in Essex, Paul Vines netted twice as Cray Wanderers beat Concord Rangers 4-0. His double was sandwiched by goals from Leigh Bremner and Laurent Hamici and the home side finished with 10 men.

In Ryman League Division 1 South, Herne Bay are up to second after they came from behind to beat Horsham 2-1. Rhys Lawson and Dean Grant scored within eight second-half minutes to extend Bay’s unbeaten record to six league games.

Kent clubs occupy five of the top seven spots in the division, with four county rivals separated only by goal-difference. Fourth-placed Maidstone United won 3-1 at Merstham despite having two players sent off.

Tom Mills, Paul Booth and Shaun Welford had put the Stones 3-0 up before Tim Olorunda and goalkeeper Charlie Mitten were given their marching orders. Merstham grabbed a late consolation from the penalty spot.

Sittingbourne are fifth after Ryan Golding’s hat-trick fired them to a fourth successive home win at the expense of Corinthian Casuals. The visitors had a man sent off in each half as the Brickies eased to a 3-0 win.

Leaders Crawley Down converted a controversial penalty to beat Folkestone Invicta by the odd goal in seven. Stuart King (2) and Richard Atkins were on target but Invicta lost 4-3 and Neil Cugley’s men have now gone five games without a win.

Faversham Town have joined Maidstone, Sittingbourne and Folkestone on 16 points thanks to Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Three Bridges at Salters Lane.

The Lilywhites had Wayne Wilson and Dave Botterill to thank as they twice came from behind to salvage a point. However, Town may feel it was a case of two dropped against a Bridges side two points off the bottom of the table.

A third straight away win has lifted Whitstable Town to 13th. Nicky Southall scored from the penalty spot and Jake MacKenzie netted a late second to hand the Oystermen a 2-0 victory at 10-man Worthing.

Ramsgate lost 2-1 at home to the division’s bottom side, Tooting & Mitcham. Ian Pulman gave the Rams a fifth-minute lead but Tooting quickly levelled before bagging a second-half winner.

At Reachfields, Hythe Town played with 10 men for 80 minutes of their 1-0 defeat to Chipstead. Pat Kingwell was dismissed for retaliation after just 10 minutes and the visitors made the most of their advantage.

An incredible game in Ryman League, Division 1 North saw Thamesmead Town throw away a 3-0 lead and lose 4-3 to Wroxham. Sean Roberts, Ashley Probets and Richard Butler looked to have put the Mead in complete command but the Norfolk side came roaring back to take all three points.

Chatham Town also surrendered a winning position as they went down 2-1 at home to Potters Bar Town. The visitors scored either side of half-time after player-manager Kevin Watson put the Chats in front.