Saturday's Ryman South review

Peacehaven put five goals past Walton Casuals on Saturday to leapfrog the pre-match leaders at the top of the Ryman South table.

Charlie Walker fired the Storks ahead in the opening minute before Tom Lawley doubled their lead midway through the first half. The goal of the game – a spectacular 35-year effort from Lloyd Cotton – arrived just after the half hour mark. Jamie Brotherton and Walker again, completed the new leaders five star show ten minutes into the second half.

Hastings United could have gone top but were forced to settle for second place after being held to a 2-2 draw at second from bottom Corinthian Casuals. Casuals earned a vital point after Glenn Boosey headed home in the 12th minute and veteran midfielder Jamie Byatt levelled on 67 minutes after Kenny Poque on 50 and Matt Darby 56 minutes had turned the game in the visitors’ favour.

Faversham, Leatherhead and Worthing were the other big winners among the clubs chasing a top five spot.

Mark Knee dispatched a dramatic stoppage time penalty to take all three points in a 3-2 win for hosts Worthing after Hythe recovered from a two goal deficit. Shaun Welford on the hour mark and Simon Lehkyi five minutes later, had pulled Hythe level after Will Berry and Chris O’Flaherty had struck before the break.

Bottom markers Eastbourne Town were shown no mercy by Faversham who came away from the seaside as 6-3 winners. Reford Tenue bagged Faversham’s sixth in the final minute after Darren Mardsen scored their only other goal of the second half soon after the restart.

By then Andrew Mensah had scored his second for the hosts to add to Billy Medlock’s first half strike but only after a brace from Jamie Maxted, an own goal from Sasha Mybac and one from Danny Hockton.

A experienced Tanners outfit proved to much for Three Bridges, heading home with a 4-1 win after skipper Darren Smith put them ahead and Tom Bradbrook grabbed a second half brace. Eisa netted their fourth five minutes from time with Jamie Coyle scoring in his own net to hand Bridges a late consolation.

At the other end of the table Sittingbourne climbed above managerless Horsham after a 2-0 win and blistering start saw Joe Taylor lash the hosts ahead after 12 minutes and Tom Loynes slot a second for the Brickies eight minutes later at Woodstock on Saturday to make it 10 points from four games in Ryman South.

Folkestone Invicta cruised to a convincing 3-0 win against Tooting & Mitcham. Man-of-the-match Josh Vincent set them on their way with his second goal in as many months from right-back and Paul Booth made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time before completing his double with 10 minutes remaining.

Invicta are now just three points outside the top-eight after overtaking Herne Bay, 3-0 losers at home to Redhill.
Marcus Elliot put Hill ahead five minutes in and he grabbed the crucial second 14 minutes from time, with Rees Myrell adding a third in the closing stages.

Burgess Hill ensured Chipstead are still in the bottom three after their convincing 4-0 home win. Max Miller opened and closed the scoring either side of the break with goals from Pat Harding and Greg Luer effectively putting the result beyond doubt by half-time.

Merstham were denied three points by Guernsey who came from behind to draw 3-3 on their travels. Aaron Rhule and Tommy Hutchings put the hosts 2-0 up before Green Lions top scorer Ross Allen dispatched a penalty six minutes before the break. Liam Wright restored their two goal cushion before Dom Heaume on the hour mark and Allen with less than 20 minutes to go levelled it.