Maidstone United pulled seven points clear at the top of Ryman League Premier Division on Saturday after Margate were held in a 3-3 thriller at 10-man Kingstonian.

While the Stones were beating Billericay 3-0, Gate fell 1-0 down inside three minutes at Kingsmeadow, and though Brett Johnson levelled on seven minutes, a penalty from Pelayo Gomez on 26 minutes and an Alan Inns strike 11 minutes later had them 3-1 behind.

The game turned in the final minute of the first half as Steve Laidler saw-red for the Ks with Charlie Wassmer punishing the hosts with a second Gate goal.

Ryan Moss then grabbed the equaliser with 19 minutes remaining, however Gate could not find a winner, and slipped further behind Maidstone, albeit with two games in hand, though third-placed Dulwich lost 4-0 at Bognor Regis Town.

Elsewhere Tonbridge Angels were held to a 1-1 draw at home to second-bottom Harrow Borough.

Tommy Whitnell’s opener 11 minutes before the break was cancelled out by Michael Peacock just before the hour as the hosts climbed to 16th, but saw their cushion over the drop zone cut to nine points.

VCD are among those chasing safety and Athletic registered a fine 2-1 win at home to fellow strugglers Hampton & Richmond to boost their own survival hopes.

Tom Jelly put the visitors ahead before the interval however a brace from Lea Dawson, the first on the hour and the second in the final minute, secured a memorable turnaround and took the Vickers within two points of safety.

Herne Bay and Whitstable are firmly in the play-off fight in Division 1 South after a big day in the promotion race.

With fifth-placed Whyteleafe losing at home to Corinthian Casuals, the Kent rivals closed the gap after wins over Chipstead and sixth-placed Worthing respectively.

Bay are seventh, two points outside the lone play-off place yet to be all-but cemented, after a stunning first-half show in a 4-3 road win.

Dan Bent’s first Bay goal and a Danny Walker penalty made it 2-0 inside 17 minutes, and though Tre Mitford pulled one back, Steven Ita and Joe Nelder netted in first-half stoppage time to make it 4-1.

Wil Turl did reduce the deficit on the hour and Farzad Bidgood set up a tense final five minutes with a Chips third, however Bay held on.

Whitstable are a place and point behind, with a game in hand, after Joe Kane fired the only goal of the game after 27 minutes at the Belmont.

Second-placed Faversham led Carshalton 1-0 through a Dean Grant goal on 11 minutes when the game was abandoned.

The players left the field after 30 minutes following a serious injury to Athletic’s Jerome Walker in a challenge which earned Town’s Matt Bourne a red card.

Folkestone are three points behind Faversham in third after crushing Horsham 5-0, with Ian Draycott completing a hat-trick.

Draycott, Jordan Wright and Ashley Miller had Invicta 3-0 to the good inside 31 minutes while goals on 64 and 80 minutes were enough to ensure Draycott the match ball.

At the other end Ramsgate secured a vital 1-0 win against Walton Casuals to move within three points of safety.

Junior James struck the only goal 26 minutes from time, and though the Rams saw keeper Adriano Varnier red-carded in the latter stages, they held on to secure a crucial win.

Hythe pulled further away from the drop-zone after a stunning comeback at Three Bridges, winning 4-3 having trailed 2-0 and 3-1.

A Ben Godfrey penalty and a Phil Stevenson own-goal made it 2-0 on 21 minutes, and though Luke Harvey pulled one back, Lee Carney made it 3-1 just before the break.

However Jordan Wells and Craig Thompson had levelled things within seven minutes of the interval and Shaun Welford won the points 13 minutes from time as Town climbed to 13th.

In Division 1 North, Chatham drew 1-1 with fellow strugglers Cheshunt to go six points clear of the relegation zone.

Joe Bingham cancelled out an early Ted Llewellyn opener after 25 minutes for the hosts but neither side could find the decisive goal.

Second-bottom Cray Wanderers are 13 points from safety after twice allowing a lead to slip in a 4-2 defeat at Soham.

Chris Piper’s fifth-minute goal had Wands ahead until five minutes into the second half, however despite Adrian Stone making it 2-1 with 25 minutes left, Andrew Palmer levelled within two minutes and Olu Akinsanya and Luke Stanley secured the points with goals in the final five minutes.

Thamesmead climbed to 13th after a first-half goal from Michael Uwezo earned a 1-0 win at Dereham.