Saturday's Ryman Premier action review

Maidstone United increased their lead at the top of the Ryman League's Premier Division table to five points on Saturday after beating Leiston and second-placed Margate suffered defeat at Hendon, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

In front of another good crowd of 1,970 at the Gallagher Stadium, the Stones had to come back from being an early second minute Adam Tann goal down to beat their Suffolk visitors. Alex Flisher levelled within three minutes and then Jay May put the leaders ahead on 24 minutes. May on 74 minutes and Flisher again, with 10 minutes remaining, completed the 4-1 success.

Hendon survived going down to ten-men late on to beat Margate by the odd goal in five at Earlsmead.

Leon Smith proved to be the Greens` hero with a hat-trick in the 39th, 45th and 62nd minutes. Charlie Allen bagged both of Gate`s goals, opening the scoring in the 12th minute and then levelling at 2-2 in first half stoppage time. Hendon had Kevin McLaren dismissed for a second booking with 6 minutes to go, but held on and are now third, three points behind Margate.

Dulwich Hamlet and Metropolitan Police complete the top five and they shared a goalless draw at Imber Court on Saturday.

Grays Athletic are looking to move up towards the top five and enjoyed a good 2-1 win at Longmead against Tonbridge Angels in which Dumebi Dumaka gave them a 28th minute lead. Freddie Ladapo added a second five minutes before the break and all Angels could muster was a 71st minute Tom Parkinson effort.

Wingate & Finchley`s third successive league defeat – and fourth on the trot – came at Fetcham Grove against ten-man Leatherhead. Carl Rook gave the Tanners a 24th minute lead and he added a second after 62 minutes – five minutes before recent recruit Adam Green saw red.

VCD Athletic were the only one of the bottom four to win to move up to twenty-first in the reckoning after they beat fellow strugglers and ten man Harrow Borough by the odd goal in five at home.

Michael Power gave the hosts an early third minute lead that he doubled 10 minutes later. But Ryan Hope gave the visitors just that when he reduced the arrears seven minutes before half-time. But right on the stroke of the interval, Boro`s Steve Butterworth received a straight red card. The ten-men battled back to level in the 82nd minute through Marc Charles-Smith, only to have their hearts broken when Power completed his hat-trick in time added on.

Lewes are now bottom after they too played with ten-man for a large chunk of their visit to Enfield Town.

The home side led through Liam Hope`s 18th minute effort when the Rooks had Jack Dixon dismissed after 31 minutes. Mark Kirby increased Town`s lead right on half-time and then recent signing Jonathan Constant made it game over with a third a couple of minutes after the interval.

Bury Town are second-from-bottom after suffering a 1-0 Ram Meadow defeat to East Thurrock United, Sam Higgins scoring the all-important goal for the Rocks with a couple of minutes to go to the break.

AFC Hornchurch, bottom a week or so back, are now twentieth after a third game without defeat. The Urchins beat Canvey Island 3-0 at the Prospects Stadium, courtesy of goals from Reece Beckles-Richards after 58 and 88 minutes and Danny Johnson in between on 76.

Bognor Regis Ton were also early strugglers but are now eleventh after a 3-0 win over Hampton & Richmond Borough at Nyewood Lane. Jason Prior proved to be the Rocks` hero with a hat-trick in the 30th, 57th and 76th minutes.

Peacehaven & Telscombe and Witham Town – both promoted at the end of last season – shared a 3-3 thriller in Sussex, with the home side battling back from two-down.

James Robinson bagged a brace to give the Essex side a 2-0 lead by the half-hour mark. James Fraser reduced the arrears on 51 minutes – and that triggered four goals in eight minutes as John Watson made it 3-1 and then Josh Jones and Fraser again pulled the hosts back on level terms.

It finished all-square too at Kingsmeadow between Kingstonian and Billericay Town – although the K`s will be the happier as they played with ten-men for three quarters of the game after having Tommy Kavanagh sent-off in the 25th minute.

They were 2-1 up by then, thanks to Nathaniel Pinney on five minutes and Elvis Hammond after 19, with Ryan Scott replying two minutes later. Dylan Casey levelled for 'Ricay eight minutes after the break, but K`s held on.