Saturday's Ryman League Premier Division, Division 1 South and Division 1 North round-up
Published: 00:00, 31 January 2015
Updated: 21:05, 31 January 2015
It’s as you were at the top of Ryman League Premier Division after the top-three all won on Saturday.
Maidstone stayed four points clear with a 1-0 win at Kingstonian and Dulwich kept up the pace in second, while Margate stayed another two points back after a dramatic win at Witham.
Witham remain in the drop-zone but are just six points behind Tonbridge Angels who were humbled 5-2 at Canvey Island.
George Sykes struck a hat-trick in the first 36 minutes for the Essex side with Joe Taylor pulling one back six minutes before the break.
Enoch Showumni added a fourth and though Jack Parter notched a late consolation, Harrison Tweddell made it five before the close.
AFC Hornchurch are the only team separating Angels from Witham after winning their crucial clash against VCD Athletic 2-0.
All the action came in the final few minutes as Danny Johnson put the hosts ahead on 87 minutes, Elliot Cox saw red for VCD in stoppage-time before George Purcell made it 2-0 with the final kick.
VCD are 21st and behind Witham on goal difference, though have played four games more.
For the second straight weekend Faversham’s Division 1 South title chances were dealt a huge blow by Kent rivals.
Town lost 2-1 at Hythe to fall three points behind unbeaten Burgess Hill, who have five games in hand.
Jordan Wells and Craig Thompson put the Cannons ahead before 20 minutes had been played and though George Monger halved the deficit before the break, the visitors could not mount a comeback as Hythe moved five points clear of the drop-zone.
Fourth-placed Folkestone ran-riot at Walton & Hersham, turning a 4-1 half-time lead into a 6-2 victory at full-time.
Harry Mill actually put the hosts infront after four minutes but Richard Atkins and Ian Draycott turned the game around within nine minutes and Ashley Miller and Matt Newman made it four at the break.
Atkins’ second and a John Pilbeam strike completed the half-dozen before Anthony Oaks’ late eply.
Whitstable missed the chance to close within a point of the play-off places after a 1-0 home defeat to Chipstead.
The only goal came midway through the first-half at the Belmont through Preddi as Town – who had taken 16 points from a possible 18 going into the clash - failed to take advantage of a defeat for fifth-placed Worthing.
Herne Bay remain eighth after their game at South Park was washed-out while Sittingbourne are 15th after being pegged-back two minutes from time by rock-bottom Ramsgate.
Hicham Akhazzan looked to have earned the Brickies the points 21 minutes from time, only for Tom Chapman to snatch a point and bring the Rams within six points of safety.
Chatham Town recorded a vital three points against basement-boys Burnham Ramblers to pull away from the foot of Division 1 North.
An own-goal from Jack Long midway through the first-half proved the difference and took Chats 19th, seven points clear of the drop-zone.
Cray Wanderers are 13 points from safety after a heartbreaking 3-2 loss at Aveley.
The hosts led 2-0 after goals shortly either side of the break, however two goals in 60 seconds from Adrian Stone and Moses Ashikodi gave Wands hope, only for Petrit Elbi to snatch a stoppage-time winner for ninth-placed Aveley.
Thamesmead remain 14th despite a 3-0 home humbling by Wroxham.
Remy Gordon gave the visitors a first-half lead while David Hinton and Christy Finch netted after the break.
Read more
Canterbury Sport Dartford Sport Faversham Sport Folkestone Sport Football Herne Bay Sport Hythe Sport Maidstone Sport Maidstone United Malling Sport Margate FC Medway Sport Ryman League Sittingbourne Sport Thanet Sport Tonbridge Angels Tonbridge Sport Weald Sport Whitstable SportMore by this author
Alex Hoad