Tuesday's Ryman Premier action review

Maidstone United and Margate both won again on Tuesday night to maintain their current domination of the Ryman Premier, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

The Stones lead the table by two points after winning 3-1 at the Village Glass Stadium against Witham Town.

Top scorer Frannie Collin gave the visitors the lead in the 42nd minute, but the Essex side responded immediately through Lee Townrow. The leaders went on to win it in the final 20 minutes with a second from Collin, this time from the penalty spot, and then Jay May 13 minutes from time.

Margate won 2-1 at Hartsdown Park in front of a crowd of 542 against Metropolitan Police.

They had to come back from being a 37th minutes goal down when Bradley Hudson-Odoi`s effort stood when most in the crowd expected a whistle for a foul by the Met striker. But just like the FA Cup game against Barton Rovers last Saturday, Charlie Allen immediately got his team back in the game moments after the break.

Allen then shot well wide from 25 yards before finding the net for a second time just before the hour-mark, eventually beating Stuart Searle with a deflected effort after going on a 40 yard run. There was still time for substitute Ty Smith to hit the post with a sharp volley for the visitors but Margate held firm to complete a fifth straight league win.

The gap between Margate and third place is six points but Hendon ensured it didn't get any bigger by beating struggling AFC Hornchurch at Bridge Road.

Leon Smith gave the Greens the breakthrough four minutes into the second half. Casey Maclaren then doubled their advantage just past the hour-mark. The Urchins later had new signing Danny Johnson sent-off on his debut with eight minutes remaining.

Dulwich Hamlet remain in fourth spot and had the points against Bury Town at Champion Hill wrapped up by the 41st minute as they raced into a lead they never looked like relinquishing.

It took just three minutes for Hamlet to take the lead, Frazer Shaw threading a pass through the middle of the Bury defence for Shawn McCoulsky, who chipped over Marcus Garnham in the Bury goal. Terrell Forbes went close to doubling the home side`s lead in the 32nd minute before McCoulsky got his second two minutes later. The game was over as a contest in the 41st minute as Xavier Vidal collected a pass, cut inside and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Leiston missed the opportunity to move into the top five when they suffered a surprise defeat at home to a VCD Athletic outfit who started the evening bottom of the table.

It began well enough for the Suffolk hosts when Tom Bullard put them in front in the 12th minute. But they were unable to take full advantage of that early lead and the Vickers gradually got back into the game. And 15 minutes from time they equalised through sub Leigh Bremner before Michael Power pounced in stoppage time to win it for the visitors.

Hampton & Richmond Borough came back down the earth with a bump as their great start under Alan Dowson came to a shuddering halt against Leatherhead at the Beveree.

It started badly for the hosts and for goalkeeper Jack Norton when he rushed out and missed the ball with Kieran Hughes-Mason on hand to take advantage and tap home a 10th minute opener. Charlie Moone levelled things up seven minutes later with a crisp shot but it was the only high point.

Leatherhead were 3-1 up at half-time with goals from Paul Semakula and Vasieleious Karagiannis and just a few minutes after the break a free-kick from Stacy Long on the byline somehow managed to beat Norton at his near post. It killed the game but not the scoring. A Carl Rook penalty in the final minute added the gloss for a side out of form against the team in form.

Bognor Regis Town leap-frogged Harrow Borough into seventeenth place in the table after winning 2-1 at Earlsmead.

Ollie Pearce gave the Rocks the boost of an early fourth minute lead before Lewis Driver pulled Boro back on level terms on the half-hour mark. Alex Parsons won it for the visitors with a second on 67 minutes.

East Thurrock United slipped above visitors Tonbridge Angels into eleventh spot after a similar outcome at Rookery Hill.

Mitch Gilbey gave the Rocks a 33rd minute lead that new signing Laurence Ball cancelled out within five minutes. But Gilbey's second right on the stroke of half-time eventually proved to be enough for the Essex side's victory.