Saturday's Ryman Premier action review

The Ryman Premier's title race took a remarkable twist on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

The day started badly for second-placed Margate when they had their home game with relegation-threatened AFC Hornchurch called off because of a waterlogged pitch but it got much better for Terry Brown`s side as they saw leaders Maidstone United beaten 3-0 at their own Gallagher Stadium home by mid-table Enfield Town.

An often feisty game which saw a plethora of bookings saw Town take a 23rd minute lead through Claudio Vilcu. And they held that lead until the final six minutes when Bobby Devyne – signed from lowly Molten Spartan South Midlands Division Two side Brimsdown earlier in the week – bagged a brace in the 84th and 87th minutes on his debut.

It got even better for Margate when news of third-placed Dulwich Hamlet's defeat at Hampton & Richmond Borough filtered through, a goal from Charlie Moone five minutes before half-time eventually proving enough for the Beavers.

Hendon and Metropolitan Police both improved their play-off hopes with wins on Saturday.

The Greens saw off fellow contenders Kingstonian 3-1 at Earlsmead – and survived for the final half-hour with ten-men.

Two quickfire goals early on from Casey McLaren and Kezie Ibe set Hendon up nicely. Aaron Morgan added a third with only 23 minutes gone on the clock.

Defender Chris Seeby was sent-off on the hour-mark following two quick bookings but the K's were only able to penetrate once through Sam page 10 minutes from time.

Leiston's play-off hopes suffered a set-back at Imber Court as Met Police also secured three important points.

Two first half goals from Charlie Collins on 35 and 45 minutes – the second from the spot - gave the visitors a mountain to climb. Patrick Brothers reduced the arrears in the 71st minute but a Bradley Hudson-Odoi goal eight minutes from time secured the win for Jim Cooper's side.

At the opposite end of the table, two teams expected to be challenging at the top end – Tonbridge Angels and Lewes - both lost to see them looking over their shoulders at the bottom four.

The Angels lost very disappointingly 3-0 at Longmead to mid-table Leatherhead, whose Carl Rook gave them a 34th minute lead. Vasieleious Karagiannis doubled the Tanners` lead on 65 minutes, with Jerry Nnamani adding a third with six minutes remaining.

Lewes lost 2-0 at the Harry Abrahams Stadium to a Wingate & Finchley side who are now only three points behind the top five.

Top marksman David Knight gave the hosts a 20th minute lead that Karl Oliyide doubled 15 minutes later.

Those defeats leave Angels only six points above the drop zone and the Rooks four, with two sides just below them – VCD Athletic and Canvey Island – sharing a 2-2 draw.

The Gulls looked to be coasting to victory, leading 2-0 with goals from Steve Smith after 13 minutes and a Jay Curran effort right on half-time. But the game changed on the hour-mark when the Gulls had defender Dave Collis dismissed for being last man.

Sub Leigh Bremner reduced the deficit 19 minutes later and then Mikhail Kennedy equalised 2 minutes later.

Second-bottom Harrow Borough were unlucky to lose 2-1 at mid-table Grays Athletic.

Kenny Beaney gave the Blues a 32nd minute lead that Marc Charles-Smith levelled three minutes before the break. But just four minutes into the second half Manny Parry scored what proved to be Grays' winner.