Another clean sheet for Hampton

They have not found it easy to find the net themselves and it was 67 minutes before Jon-Jo Bates put them ahead, their sixth goal of the campaign. Charlie Moone made it safe with eight minutes left.

A point behind are Lowestoft, who wasted no time in taking control of their home game against Harrow. Greg Crane and Dan Gleeson netted in the first 18 minutes, and Chris Henderson completed a 3-0 scoreline soon after the interval.

Margate are a point further back after matching Hampton with a 2-0 victory at Bognor and, they, too, had to wait until the midpoint of the second half to break the deadlock. Tommy Murphy was the marksman, and Ryan Dolby added a late second. (Margate, in stripes, are pictured on the attack by Don Walker).

Bury are level on points with the Kent club thanks to Allicion Blake’s 81st-minute goal which was enough to allow them to take all three points with them on the long trip back to Suffolk.

There is then a three-point gap to the rest of the pack, though fifth-placed Kingstonian could close it if they beat Leiston today (Sunday). Leiston need a point to climb off the foot of the table.

They are one of four teams still seeking their first win. Two of them met at Carshalton yesterday and shared the points in a 1-1 draw. It was the fourth such result in five games for East Thurrock, who will feel they should have won it after Sam Collins gave them the lead just before the hour. But they had Spencer Harrison sent off shortly afterwards and the Robins took advantage, equalising through Ola Sogbanmu with nine minutes left. The crowd was given as the highest in the Premier, 675, although that included many who were there for a pre-match event for children and did not stay for the game.

Concord, similarly, forfeited the lead after going down to ten men and had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Hendon, the other side still without a victory. Jack Mazzone gave the home side a 15th-minute lead which they held until 12 minutes after the interval, when James White levelled it. Tony Stokes put the Beachboys ahead ten minutes later but the dismissal of Danny Glozier was quickly followed by Greg Ngoyi’s 79th-minute equaliser.

Thurrock, in 21st place, were unable to take advantage of a gift as they lost 2-1 at home to Wingate. Marc Weatherstone’s early own goal was a handy boost for the hosts but they could not build on it. Leon Smith levelled it 11 minutes into the second half and Anderson Pinto fired the winner nine minutes later.

Josh Jones gave Whitehawk a flying start at Wealdstone with a third-minute strike but the Premier newcomers were pegged back by Lee Chappell’s goal on the stroke of half-time and it finished 1-1. Hawks finished with nine men. Already one short because of injury, they had Ryan James sent off in added time.

There was another draw at Canvey, where Lewes were the visitors. This one was goalless, perhaps not surprisingly. The islanders have scored only three goals and conceded just one in their five outings.

Met Police nicked their first win of the season thanks to a double by teenage newcomer Jonty Smith double at Cray. He netted after 20 and 55 minutes to set up a 2-1 victory, their clean sheet spoiled by Mark Willy in the 89th minute.