Saturday's Premier Division action review

After Wealdstone clinched the Ryman Premier title in midweek, the main focus of attention during the Easter weekend was on who might join them in the Conference South via the play-offs and who survives for another season at Premier Division level, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

And with two games to go, there are still six teams vying for the four play-off spots and four for the remaining two relegation places.

Bognor Regis Town look favourites for one of those top five places after ending Maidstone United`s unbeaten record and maybe their promotion hopes too.

Scott Chamberlain gave the Rocks the lead five minutes before half-time and they doubled their advantage after 64 minutes when substitute Dan Thompson, only on the field for two minutes, netted Ollie Pearce`s cross from close range.

Steve Watt reduced the arrears seven minutes later but it was the Sussex visitors who looked more likely to add to their tally in the closing stages.

Kingstonian are third and inflicted the heaviest defeat of the season to date on champions Wealdstone.

In front of a celebratory crowd of 895, the Stones were rocked when goalkeeper Jonathan North received a straight red card after only 16 minutes. With manager Gordon Bartlett without a sub keeper on the bench, Sean Cronin came on to don the gloves.

And the first thing he did was to pick Andre McCollin`s penalty out of the back of the net. Just two minutes later and K`s doubled their lead with a Drage header. And McCollin made it 3-0 after 67 minutes, with sub Sam Akinde adding the fourth with nine minutes to go.

AFC Hornchuch slipped to fourth after going down to a home defeat to in-form Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Ben Harris became the fourth different Hampton player to notch a hat-trick this season as another big gun was put in their place by the Beavers, who already had Wealdstone and play-off chasers Bognor, Lowestoft Town, Dulwich Hamlet and Kingstonian on their list of victims.

The Urchins got off to a terrible start when they conceded two goals in the opening 12 minutes – the first from the spot after a foul by `keeper Inigo Echepere – both scored by Harris.

George Purcell reduced the arrears with a neat free-kick in the 14th minute and then on 64 minutes the home side pulled back on level terms through Rickie Hayles' header. But the Beavers took the points nine minutes from the end when Harris completed his hat-trick.

Lowestoft Town slipped into the top five after a hard-earned 1-0 win over Billericay Town at Crown Meadow, the Trawlerboys winning it with a header from Jake Reed with 15 minutes to go.

Dulwich Hamlet slipped out of the play-off places with a last-minute defeat to Leiston at Champions Hill, having let a half-time lead slip.

Despite being roared on by another excellent crowd of 710, Dulwich paid for defensive errors. They opened confidently but fell behind on nine minutes when Craig Parker struck. Nyren Clunis grabbed an equaliser in the 28th minute and in the 36th minute put Dulwich in front.

It took just six minutes of the second half for Leiston to level as a free-kick found the unmarked David Head and with 90 minutes up Parker drilled home his second of the game to win it for Leiston.

At the other end of the table, Cray Wanderers and Carshalton Athletic already occupy two of the four relegation spots, but it`s two from four as to who joins them.

A point at fourth-bottom Wingate & Finchley moved Enfield Town nearer to safety in eighteenth place but leaves it all still to play for in Easter Monday's game with the team immediately below them, East Thurrock United.

Enfield got their noses in front in the 53rd minute when Mark Kirby nodded Brad Quinton's free-kick to Mitch Hahn, whose shot span past the Wingate keeper, creeping inside the post. The celebrations only lasted two minutes though as a mishit clearance fell to Josh Kennett who fired past Town's stand-in keeper for the equaliser.

East Thurrock stayed above Wingate on goal difference after also being involved in a 1-1 draw at Rookery Hill against mid-table Metropolitan Police.

It was the visitors who took the lead after 16 minutes with a fine 20-yard effort from Charlie Collins. But the Rocks grabbed a lifeline three minutes into the second period with an equaliser from Lewis Smith.

Thamesmead Town put the cat among the pigeons by beating Canvey Island 2-0 at Bayliss Avenue to give themselves a chance of avoiding the drop.

Mead, on a good run of late, were quick out of the blocks and took a ninth minute lead through Rob Carter. And their second on 57 minutes from Les Thompson from 25 yards was worthy of winning any match.

So, going into the final two games, Thamesmead are now just three points behind East Thurrock and Wingate, while Enfield have a five-point cushion, so probably only need to avoid defeat on Bank Holiday Monday to stay up.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Margate went goal crazy at Colston Avenue against already-doomed Carshalton, with two goals from Charlie Allen, a hat-trick from Jefferson Louis and one from Luke Medley making it 6-0.

Cray, already down with the Robins, were also beaten at home, but only by a single 11th minute goal from Anthony Page for Harrow Borough who were grateful to former Arsenal `keeper James Shea`s fine save from Paul Vines late on.

Lewes probably can`t wait for the season to end, and they suffered another disappointing result.

Having ended an eleven-game win-less run in midweek, it looked as though the Rooks had turned the corner, but, despite taking a 16th minute lead through Joel Ledgister, they went down to a 4-1 defeat to mid-table Bury Town and played the final half-hour with ten-men after Jack Dixon was dismissed for a rash challenge on Callum Bennett.

Before that, Liam Wales had equalised five minutes before half-time and 10 minutes after the break sub Tevan Allen had given the Blues the lead. After Dixon`s red card, Anthony Roulston on 73 and Ross Bailey added two more to make it 4-1.

Hendon`s mathematical chances of making the top five ended when they went down to an odd goal in five defeat to Grays Athletic at Earlsmead.

The only goal of the opening first half came as early as the sixth minute when Chris Benjamin gave the visitors the lead. The Greens equalised in the 51st minute through Dave Diedhiou.

However, with just seven minutes remaining Joel Nouble put Grays back in front. But deep into stoppage time Michael Murray converted a spot-kick for what looked like being an equaliser. Seven minutes into time added on, Benjamin popped up with the last-gasp winner for the Essex side.