Saturday's Ryman Premier action review

By David Watters

Ryman League

The top three in the Ryman Premier all won on Saturday, so it`s as you were with Maidstone United on top spot, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

They won 1-0 at Kingsmeadow against Kingstonian, courtesy of an Alex Brown effort four minutes before half-time.

Dulwich Hamlet are second after beating Grays Athletic 2-0 at Champion Hill in front of a good crowd of 1,047.

Grays held their own until the 64th minute when substitute Albert Jarrett gave the home side the lead. And victory was sealed in stoppage time when Xavier Vidal added the second.

Margate in third survived going down to ten-men against struggling Witham Town to record a 2-1 win at the Village Glass Stadium.

Tom Phipp's day started well enough when he gave Gate a 26th minute lead. Witham were rewarded for their hard work just after the hour-mark as Lewis Godbold hammered home a 30-yard thunderbolt past the stranded Nikki Bull to level the scores.

Things were to go from bad to worse though for the Blues moments later as goalscorer Phipp lunged in dangerously and earned himself a straight red card. But in the 93rd minute Ryan Moss prodded home Charlie Wassmer’s cross to give the away side a crucial win.

There were defeats though for fourth-placed Metropolitan Police and fifth-placed Hendon.

The Met were beaten 1-0 at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium by Enfield Town, whose Darnell Wynter came off the bench to snatch an 88th minute winner.

The Greens were beaten 2-0 by Peacehaven & Telscombe at The Sports Park.

Jamie Brotherton opened the scoring on 36 minutes and Tom Burton sealed the win with a well-taken goal on 85 minutes. The win means Haven move up one place to fifteenth in the table.

Sixth-placed East Thurrock United failed to take advantage though as they too suffered defeat by the odd goal in five at the Dripping Pan against a Lewes side who moved up to eighteenth in the table as a result.

It was a nervy finale, however, as the Rooks led 3-0 with goals from Sam Cole with a brace – the first from the spot – in the 30th and 35th minutes, and then Leroy Griffiths seven minutes after the break.

But top scorer Sam Higgins also notched twice on the hour-mark and then in the last minute to keep the home defence on their toes to the end.

Leiston bounced back to winning ways with a gritty and determined display to defeat a lively Hampton & Richmond Borough side 2-0 at Victory Road.

A superb first half strike from Darren Mills opened the scoring after 11 minutes with Joe Jefford doubling the lead with a header midway through the second half.

AFC Hornchurch moved out of the bottom four after a crucial last-gasp 2-0 win against fellow strugglers VCD Athletic at Bridge Road.

A 0-0 draw looked likely and then it all happened. Sub Danny Johnson broke the deadlock to give the Urchins an 87th minute lead before George Purcell to add a second for the hosts.

Tonbridge Angels are in grave danger of suffering back-to back relegations after a 5-2 hammering at another of the strugglers, Canvey Island.

On-loan George Sykes hit a first half hat-trick with goals in the 6th, 24th and 36th minutes – Joe Taylor replying on 39 minutes – as Canvey went into the break 3-1 ahead.

Enoch Showunmi added a fourth on the hour-mark and, after Jack Parter had reduced the arrears, Harrison Tweddell made it a nap hand for the hosts to leave Angels just five points above the drop zone – and having played more games than most around them.

The day`s other game saw mid-table sides Bognor Regis Town and Billericay Town cancel each other out in a 1-1 draw at Nyewood Lane.

Ricky Sappleton broke the deadlock to give the visiting Blues a 62nd minute lead that Jason Prior levelled from the spot with 16 minutes remaining.

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