Maidstone United slipped to fourth in Ryman League Premier Division but did earn a 1-1 draw against leaders AFC Hornchurch.

On-loan Tom Phipp put the hosts ahead at the Gallagher after 10 minutes with his second for the club but former Cray man Leigh Bremner bundled home a scrappy equaliser two minutes later to secure a point for the Essex side.

Stones are now three points behind new leaders Kingstonian but do have two games in hand.

Margate’s play-off quest was dented further as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at Lowestoft Town.

Jake Reed put the hosts ahead inside two minutes and Manny Osei’s second three minutes before the break gave Gate a mountain to climb.

Sam Gaughram got the third 25 minutes from time to leave Margate 10th, 11 points outside the play-off places.

Cray Wanderers were a stoppage-time penalty away from a crucial win at Wingate & Finchley.

Second-bottom Wands led through Jack Sherratt’s strike on the half-hour but were left heartbroken after David Iaird converted from the spot in added time.

They remain behind Thamesmead Town on goal-difference after Mead salvaged a 1-1 draw against basement-boys Carshalton Athletic.

Niall McManus put Athletic ahead shortly before the break but Junior Baker earned a point 13 minutes from time.

Ramsgate are Kent’s highest-placed side in Division 1 South after a 5-0 cruise against Three Bridges took them seventh, just three points outside the play-off places.

Aaron Millbank put the Rams ahead eight minutes before the break but two goals in five minutes around the hour made the game safe. The first came from James Everitt’s penalty with Ollie Schulz getting the third.

Andy Miller and Tom Chapman put the gloss on the result in the final three minutes.

Hythe Town went eighth after a comfortable 3-0 win over Burgess Hill Town.

Ashley Miller made the breakthrough just after the hour and Shaun Welford made it 2-0 five minutes later.

Welford’s second in the 87th minute sealed the points as Hythe moved a point behind Ramsgate, but with a game in hand.

The Kent sides both leapfrogged Faversham Town who slid to ninth after a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Merstham.

The visitors went ahead seven minutes after the interval and although an own-goal made it 1-1 12 minutes from time, Merstham snatched the winner two minutes from time.

In-form Folkestone Invicta are well-placed in 13th with games in hand after a 5-1 romp at Horsham.

Goals either side of half-time gave Paul Booth a brace for the second game in succession and Dane Luchford made the game safe with a third on the hour.

Johan Ter Horst added a fourth on 69 minutes and Luchford got his second before a late consolation from Junior Kaffo.

Herne Bay are 14th after a dramatic 4-3 win at Chipstead.

Jamie O’Connell put Bay ahead on 32 minutes but Dan Moody levelled within four minutes and Stefan Joseph’s brace in the opening 20 minutes of the second-half left Bay trailing 3-1.

There were 22 minutes left when Jamie Turner pulled one back and O’Connell made it 3-3 16 minutes from time before an injury-time own-goal from a Chipstead defender completed a stunning turnaround for Sam Denly’s men.

Red-hot Whitstable Town are up to 17th after coming from behind with 10-men to beat Corinthian Casuals 3-1 at The Belmont.

The visitors took a surprise lead just after the half-hour when Jamie Byatt smashed home a penalty after Ross Webb had been penalised, and red-carded, for handing on the line.

However an Ashley Baverstock penalty made it 1-1 after 36 minutes and it wasn’t until nine minutes from time that Trophy hero Craig Thompson put Town ahead and Joe Kane added a third in stoppage-time.

The goal took the Oystermen ahead of Sittingbourne on goal-difference after the Brickies went down 3-0 at Leatherhead, a team managed by their former boss Richard Brady and who featured six ex-Bourne players in their side.

Former Maidstone man Ian Draycott put the hosts ahead and Tom Bradbrook got the crucial second for the Tanners against his former club in first-half stoppage-time.

Bradbrook’s second in the 88th minute ensured Bourne slipped to 18th.

VCD Athletic remain 12 points clear at the top of Division 1 North after a 5-0 cruise at Barkingside.

Karl Dent opened the scoring five minutes before the break and Dean Carpenter made it 2-0 five minutes after the interval.

Nick Reeves and James Duckworth goals made it 3-0 before Duckworth’s second late-on completed the rout.

Chatham Town were pegged-back two minutes from time and had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Wroxham.

Austin Gacheru’s diving header put the Chats ahead before the break but Joe Marsden snatched a point for the Norfolk side as Town rose to 17th rather than two places higher had they held-on.

Erith & Belvedere were edged-out 3-2 in a rollercoaster game at Harlow Town to stay fourth-bottom.

Ryan Flack put Deres ahead early-on but Leon Antoine and James Smith turned things around before the break.

Taylor Thomas made it 2-2 eight minutes into the second-half but Alex Read won it for Harlow 11 minutes from time.