Margate took advantage of Maidstone United’s inactivity to extend their lead at the top of Ryman League Premier Division on Saturday.

With the Stones preparing to face Stevenage in the FA Cup First Round on Sunday, Gate went five points ahead of their Kent rivals – who have four games in hand – by virtue of a 3-0 cruise at VCD Athletic, with all the goals coming in the first half.

Infact the game was almost up within three minutes as Ryan Moss broke the deadlock after just two minutes and Luke Moore made it 2-0 within 60 seconds, with Tambeson Eyong ending the game as a contest shortly after the half-hour.

VDC slipped to third-bottom after wins for fellow-strugglers Harrow Borough and Lewes.

Tonbridge Angels are just three places above the drop-zone after a late defeat at home to Billericay.

Jacob Cleaver struck the only goal of the game 11 minutes from time at Longmead.

Chatham Town also suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Essex opponents as Brentwood left Maidstone Road with the points in Division 1 North courtesy of an own-goal midway through the second half.

Thamesmead Town were thwarted late on at Heybridge Swifts, having to settle for a point after an 89th-minute penalty from Joe Pearman.

Tyrus Gordon-Young’s 14th-minute opener looked to be enough until the Swifts late-show.

Cray Wanderers’ league struggles continued as they were reduced to nine men on their way to a 2-0 loss at fellow-strugglers Tilbury.

Michael Phillips saw red for two bookings a minute before the break but it took until 67 minutes for Harry Cook to put the hosts ahead.

Ryan Flack made it 2-0 eight minutes from time while Marlon Patterson was shown a straight red with four minutes remaining for second-bottom Wands.

Faversham Town managed to hold onto top-spot in Division 1 South despite a surprise 5-1 humbling at home to Hastings United.

The Lilywhites had won nine of their 10 home games in all competitions, drawing the other, but fell behind inside nine minutes before Ade Olorunda bagged a brace on 15 and 40 minutes to give the struggling visitors a commanding half-time lead.

A Brown own-goal on 65 minutes made it 4-0 and though Jack Harris netted his 10th of the season in his final appearance of a loan spell from Maidstone eight minutes from time, Hassan added the Hastings fifth in the final minute.

Town remain top thanks to neighbours Whitstable Town thwarting title-chasing Burgess Hill Town.

The visitors took the lead with only four minutes to play at the Belmont, however Ian Pulman grabbed a share of the points two minutes later to aid his former side and keep his current one in the top-10.

Folkestone Invicta are just six points off the top after grabbing a late winner at home to Walton Casuals.

The rock-bottom visitors took a shock lead on 54 minutes but Wright levelled on 69 minutes and Ian Draycott earned the points six minutes from the end for the third-placed Stripes.

Sittingbourne are sixth and only outside the play-off places on goal difference after a goalless draw at Three Bridges while Herne Bay are 11th after Stuart King fired a hat-trick in an eye-catching 4-3 win in the lunchtime game at Guernsey.

Sam Hasler’s opener for Bay on nine minutes was cancelled out by Marc McGrath five minutes later, but King struck 12 minutes either side of the break to make it 3-1.

An own-goal just after the hour gave the Islanders hope but King claimed the match ball on 83 minutes with Bay’s fourth, meaning Tom De La Mare’s 90th minute strike was a mere consolation.

Ramsgate came from behind to earn a point against Horsham at Southwood.

Byron Napper put the visitors infront nine minutes after the interval but Dean Hill salvaged a draw 16 minutes from the end, though the Rams did slip to 18th.

One place below them are Hythe Town who suffered a 4-1 defeat at Walton & Hersham to leave them three points above the drop-zone.

Harry Mills put the hosts ahead after nine minutes and Gareth Chendlik made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half.

Despite Laurence Harvey pulling one back from the penalty spot five minutes later, an own-goal on the hour made it 3-1 and Andrew Mensah wrapped it up with a fourth late-on.