Saturday's Ryman Premier action review

With Maidstone United in FA Cup action, Ryman Premier leaders Margate had the opportunity to increase their advantage at the top of the table, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

However, they were only able to increase it by one point after sharing a 1-1 draw at East Thurrock United.

The deadlock was broken on the hour-mark when Sam Higgins put the home side in front. But the table-toppers pulled back on level terms within five minutes through Luke Moore but Terry Brown`s side were unable to find a winner.

Dulwich Hamlet returned to third place after they won 1-0 at Peacehaven & Telscombe and Hendon, who started the day in second, suffered a 4-1 defeat at Nyewood Lane against improving Bognor Regis Town.

Ashley Carew scored the only goal of the game after 68 minutes in Sussex to give Hamlet victory, while Bognor produced arguably their best performance of the season to beat Hendon, almost winning the game in the opening quarter of the game when a James Fisher own goal, Alex Parsons and Ollie Pearce gave the Rocks a 3-0 lead.

Belal Aite-Ouakrim reduced that on 24 minutes but Doug Tuck`s last-minute fourth completed a good afternoon`s work for the home side.

Fifth-placed Leiston could only manage a point from a 1-1 draw at second-bottom AFC Hornchurch, whose George Purcell broke the deadlock four minutes after half-time from the spot, only for Joe Jefford to level nine minutes later.

Wingate & Finchley are now only three points behind Leiston after beating bottom-markers Bury Town 2-1 at Ram Meadow.

Early goals from Rob Laney after three minutes and a David Knight penalty 10 minutes later, given for a `professional foul` that saw full-back Callum Bennett sent-off. The ten-men battled hard and managed to reduce the arrears on 54 minutes through Joey Benjamin.

VCD Athletic gained three vital points to move up to third-bottom, thanks to Michael Power`s brace against Enfield Town whose goals came after 19 and 46 minutes, with Jonathan Constant replying just before the hour-mark.

Harrow Borough are back in trouble after losing 2-1 at Earlsmead to Billericay Town, being leap-frogged by Lewes, who shared a goalless draw at the Dripping Pan with Tonbridge Angels.

Ricky Sappleton put Billericay one-up after 28 minutes against Harrow, whose Greg Ngoyi equalised five minutes before the break. Richard Halle`s 57th minute penalty eventually proved to be enough for Ricay.

Witham Town remain in trouble, level on points with Lewes and Harrow, after suffering a 4-0 drubbing at Essex rivals Grays Athletic.

However, it was goalless at the time of defender Connor Mead`s dismissal for a second yellow card five minutes before half-time. Kenny Beaney took full advantage to give Grays the lead seven minutes after the restart and two minutes later Freddie Ladapo doubled their advantage.

Dumebi Dumaka on 62 minutes and Ladapo again four minutes from the end added gloss to the scoreline.

Mid-table Kingstonian and Leatherhead shared a 2-2 draw at Kingsmeadow in which Kiernan Hughes-Mason gave the Tanners a first minute lead and then saw Pelayo Pico Gomez bag a brace in the 11th and 15th minutes – the first from the spot – to turn the game in K`s favour. But Carl Rook rescued a point for the visitors with less than four minutes remaining.