Folkestone's Simon Austin netted twice against Bognor Regis Town Picture: Wayne McCabe.

Free-scoring Maidstone United opened up a five-point lead at the top of Ryman League, Division 1 South with a 4-1 win over Ramsgate on Saturday.

Stones made it 12 wins from 13 games after Ellis Green opened the scoring on six minutes with his six goal of the campaign from Shaun Welford's pass.

Ian Pulman drew the visitors level, slotting past stand-in Stones keeper Kelvin Jack on 18 minutes, but Welford restored the home side's lead on 25 minutes, holding off the challenge of three players before firing home his 20th of the season against his former club.

It was 3-1 three minutes later when Welford diverted Green's cross across goal for Alex Flisher to head home his second goal in as many games and Alex Waugh wrapped up the points with a fourth just before the hour.

Second-placed Dulwich Hamlet have a game in hand, but lost 1-0 at Worthing on Saturday.

Sittingbourne allowed a 2-0 lead to slip in the final two minutes in a dramatic finale at Whyeleafe.

A Hicham Akhazzan wonderstrike just before the hour and a 73rd-minute penalty from Joe Goldsmith - his third in two games - looked to have earned the Brickies a precious win.

However with two minutes remaining, Goldsmith received treatment for a head injury on halfway and when the hosts attempted to boot the ball back to Bourne keeper Matt Reed, the ball struck defender Ryan Cooper on the back, and a Leafe forward picked up the loose ball and bore down on goal, eventually earning a corner from which his side equalised.

The incensed Bourne players could not regain theuir composure and conceded another corner in the final minute from which the hosts equalised to earn a controversial point.

Simon Austin was Folkestone Invicta's hero as they earned a 2-2 home draw against promotion rivals Bognor Regis Town in manager Neil Cugley's 750th competitive game in charge.

The visitors opened the scoring inside six minutes but Austin headed the hosts level just after the hour and turned the game on its head 12 minutes from time with a sensational strike into the corner after beating two men outside the box.

However Bognor found an equaliser on 82 minutes and both teams spurned chances to win it, with Austin being denied a hat-trick by a superb save from Craig Stoner as Folkestone dropped to fifth, two places behind Bognor.

Faversham Town enjoyed a fine 1-0 win at Godalming Town to move up to 12th.

Tom Hickman scored the only goal of the game after just 13 minutes, but the Lilywhites were endebted to a penalty save from keeper Rob French in added time at the end of the game for keeping them infront.

Hythe Town put up a brave fight but suffered a 1-0 reverse at ambitious Whitehawk to stay 11th.

The only goal arrived after just two minutes and despite frustrating their hosts for long-periods, Town could not find a breakthrough at the other end.

Whitstable Town's new boss Justin Luchford saw his side go down 4-1 at Chipstead, a scoreline which flattered the hosts.

Steven Lloyd saw a goal mysteriously disallowed for Town before the break but after half-time the hosts scored a well-worked goal past new keeper Jack Smelt before moments later a farcical second arrived courtesy of some unclear officiating.

Town responded with a fine strike by debutant John-Paul Collier but as they pushed for a leveller the hosts added a third and it was 4-1 after Town had strong appeals for a penalty waved away.

Whitstable are now 18th, three points clear of the drop-zone.

In Division 1 North, Chatham Town let slip a 1-0 lead at Ware, emerging with just a point from a 2-2 draw.

New signing Lloyd Blackman opened the scoring on 13 minutes but was then penalised for interfering with play from an offside position as the visitors thought they had netted a second through Gary Tilley.

Blackman saw a header ruled out after the break - though the ball appeared well over the line when it was hacked clear - and the hosts made the Chats pay for missing several chances, with two goals in 13 minutes to turn the game around.

Lee Hales salvaged a point from the spot on 72 minutes after Tilley was fouled by the keeper, who was only booked, before both teams missed chances to grab a third, with Chatham staying 12th.

Thamesmead Town slipped to 11th after a 4-0 reverse at leaders Needham Market.

Two goals in 10 minutes before the break gave Mead a mountain to climb and Market finished them off with a goal on the hour and a fourth in added time.