Sittingbourne on the run against Herne Bay Picture: Tony Flashman

Goals from Tommy Murphy and Ryan Dolby fired Margate to a hugely impressive 2-0 win away to Bognor Regis Town on Saturday.

The Gate remain unbeaten in the Ryman League Premier Division and their latest triumph has lifted them to fourth in the table.

However, Cray Wanderers lost 2-1 at home to Metropolitan Police.

Jonty Smith scored both goals for the visitors and although Mark Willy pulled one back for Cray in the 89th minute, they were unable to salvage a point.

In Ryman League Division 1 South, Folkestone Invicta dropped points for the first time this season as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Eastbourne Town.

Two more goals for Stuart King took his tally to seven, endorsing the view of his manager Neil Cugley, who believes King could bag a half-century this season. Invicta are second on goal-difference.

Whitstable Town sit rock-bottom after three straight league defeats. On Saturday, they lost 2-1 at Merstham, where Stuart Vahid’s early strike was cancelled out by a Roscoe D’Sane double.

The Oystermen are the only side in the division yet to register a point and Saturday’s loss followed their FA Cup exit at the hands of VCD Athletic seven days earlier.

Having not met in a competitive fixture since the 1990/91 season, Herne Bay and Sittingbourne finally locked horns at Winch’s Field.

The home side played for most of the second half with 10 men after Rhys Lawson was sent off, but the low-scoring Brickies couldn’t break through as the game ended 0-0.

Paul Booth scored twice to hand Maidstone United their first-ever league win at the Gallagher Stadium.

A crowd of 1,276 watched the Stones beat Corinthian Casuals 2-0, with Booth striking on 12 minutes and then from the penalty spot nine minutes into the second half.

Faversham Town slumped to a 4-1 defeat at home to Walton & Hersham.

With the Lilywhites trailing 1-0, Luke Harvey hit the post and the visitors capitalised on their good fortune by scoring three more times. Harvey netted a late consolation for Ray Turner’s side.

Defensive lapses and attacking wastefulness sent Hythe Town tumbling to a 2-1 defeat at newly-promoted Three Bridges.

Taser Hassan gave Hythe the lead on eight minutes but Tim Rivers equalised from the penalty spot and Joel O’Hara won the game for Bridges with 13 minutes to play.

Ramsgate returned from West Sussex with a point to show for their efforts after holding Burgess Hill Town to a 0-0 draw.

Both sides had chances to win the game, with Ben Laslett and Warren Schulz going close for the Rams.

In Ryman League Division 1 North, Chatham Town’s unbeaten record was ended as they lost 2-0 at home to Needham Market.

Nathan Clarke and Keiron Leabon were on target for the Suffolk side and the defeat leaves the Chats sitting fifth.

Thamesmead Town drew 2-2 at Heybridge Swifts, with Rob Carter and Lea Dawson scoring their goals, but the game was shrouded in controversy.

The visitors were denied a penalty when Adriano Lawson appeared to be tripped in the box and James Dawson was shown a second yellow card after the final whistle as Town’s protestations boiled over.

Above, right: Maidstone's double goalscorer Paul Booth wins a header against Corinthian Casuals at the Gallagher Stadium Picture: Martin Apps