Saturday's Ryman Premier action review

There's no doubting where the game of the day in the Ryman League's Premier Division was on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

That could only have been at the Gallagher Stadium where leaders Maidstone United entertained fellow promotion-contenders Margate in front of a terrific crowd of 2,226.

And the Stones` 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from Alex Brown right on half-time and then Billy Bricknell eight minutes after the break – all after Zac Attwood had given Gate a 34th minute lead – leaves them seven points clear of second-placed Hendon, who have a game in hand.

Margate have two games in hand on the leaders but trail by thirteen points, so it looks as though it's the play-offs for Terry Brown`s side.

Hendon maintained their hopes with a 2-0 win at Earlsmead against Leatherhead, with goals from Aaron Morgan after 33 minutes and Casey Maclaren on 53 minutes. And they held firm, despite losing Lee O`Leary to two bookable offences two minutes after their second goal.

Dulwich Hamlet look almost certain to finish in the top five, despite losing 3-0 at Wingate & Finchley, who are one of possibly eight other sides in contention for a play-off spot.

Harrison Georgiou gave Wingate a 33rd minute lead that Karl Oliyide on 65 and David Knight from the spot three minutes later, added to.

Just four points separate fifth-placed Enfield Town from Kingstonian in twelfth, making for an exciting finish.

Enfield beat a Hampton & Richmond Borough side still not safe from the drop 1-0 at the QEII Stadium, thanks to a 71st minute Jordan Locke effort.

Leiston, East Thurrock United, Grays Athletic, Bognor Regis Town, Metropolitan Police and the K`s are all still in with a shout.

Leiston increased Tonbridge Angels` relegation worries with a 2-1 win at Victory Road, courtesy of John Sands after 16 minutes and Conor Hubble on 53 minutes – on-loan Nathan Elder replying three minutes from time.

East Thurrock won by the same scoreline, also at home and also to a relegation battler in fourth-bottom Witham Town.

Lewis Godbold gave Town a 39th minute lead that Sam Higgins cancelled out right on half-time. Top scorer Higgins then converted a 78th minute penalty to win it, with Witham having Paul White sent-off with six minutes remaining.

Grays won 2-0 at Ram Meadow against a Bury Town outfit whose relegation was confirmed as a result.

Goals in the final six minutes from Dumebi Dumaka and sub Bradley Tomlinson won it for the visiting Blues.

Bognor inflicted a 2-0 defeat on fellow contenders Met Police, with Terry Dodd after 15 minutes and Jason Prior on 63 minutes scoring the Nyewood Lane goals.

And Kingstonian were also winners, 3-0 at Kingsmeadow against Peacehaven & Telscombe, thanks to a Pelayo Pico-Gomez brace and one from Charlie Penny.

Who goes down with Bury is also tight. Second-bottom VCD Athletic gave themselves hope with a 2-0 home win over a Lewes side who still need a few more points to be safe.

Both sides finished with ten-men, with the Rooks losing Jack Rowe-Hurst to a straight red after just 15 minutes for preventing a goalscoring opportunity – Michael Power converting the resulting penalty.

The Vickers lost Nick Reeves five minutes after the break, also to a straight red, but by then they were two-up, thanks to James Duckworth`s 23rd minute second.

AFC Hornchurch lost a crucial `six-pointer` at home to fellow strugglers Harrow Borough despite taking a fourth minute lead through George Purcell.

It wasn`t until five minutes after the break that Kamaron English equalised and then Lewis Driver after 64 minutes and Marc Charles-Smith in injury-time, added the others for Boro.

Canvey Island pulled themselves seven points clear of the drop zone after beating Billericay Ton 2-0 at the Prospects Stadium, courtesy of an own goal from Steve Sheehan three minutes after the break.