Plastic's not fantastic for Stones

But, despite heading the Ryman South table, Stones have won only half their 14 home games after their 0-0 draw with Burgess Hill yesterday (Saturday).

Almost 2,000 watched a frustrating afternoon for the hosts at the Gallagher Stadium. Alex Flisher came closest to breaking the deadlock when he hit a Hillians post in the second half.

Dulwich closed to within two points with three games in hand after a 2-0 home win over bottom club Three Bridges, who put up a brave effort but remain seven points adrift of safety.

It was the tenth minute of the second half before Erhan Oztumer made the breakthrough. Ryan James clinched the points with a 20-yarder in the 76th minute.

Faversham stayed third but lost ground after being held to a 1-1 home draw by Herne Bay, who were unlucky not to be in front by the interval after James Turner twice hit the bar.

The hosts made the most of their good fortune, taking the lead through Toby Ashmore eight minutes after the break, but the visitors nabbed the point they deserved with a late equaliser from Billy Bennett.

Folkestone moved up to sixth with a 2-0 home win over fourth-placed Leatherhead despite playing for almost an hour with ten men.

Richard Atkins opened the scoring on the half-hour and, although Phil Stevenson was sent off shortly afterwards, they stretched their lead before the interval with a Darren Smith penalty and held out.

Sittingbourne, in fifth place, went down 2-1 at Merstham which means that Folkestone are just a point behind them with two games in hand.

Two goals in a minute just before half-time, from Lee Newman and Fabio Saraiva, were enough to clinch Merstham’s first win of the year and first at home since October 6.

Hicham Akhazzan had earlier hit the bar for the Brickies, who pulled one back through Ryan Golding with 16 minutes left, his 18th league goal, but could not salvage a point.

There are six clubs within four points of the play-offs, two of whom met at Ramsgate where Hythe came from behind to win 4-2.

Curtis Robinson’s second-minute goal for the home side held up until just after the hour, when Craig Cloke levelled the scores and Dave Cook became the first man in the division to reach 20 league goals with a penalty.

Warren Schulz put Ramsgate back on terms in the 70th minute, also with a penalty, but Ashley Miller restored Hythe’s lead with eight minutes left and Brendon Cass made sure.

Crawley Down would have moved into the top five with a home win over Corinthian-Casuals, but it was the visitors who came out on top with a lone goal from Jamie Byatt in the 65th minute.

Inconsistent Worthing stayed in the hunt with three unanswered goals against visitors Chipstead. Jamie Brotherton netted twice in as many minutes midway through the first half and Matt Daniels added the third nine minutes from time, shortly after Chipstead’s Devon Williams was dismissed.

Life without manager Jamie Martin, who resigned in midweek after a budget dispute, proved no problem for Tooting who romped to a 4-0 win at Whitstable.

Bamoussa Cisse put the Terrors ahead after the 13th minute, an unlucky number for the Oystermen who fell further behind when Anthony Joseph netted 13 minutes later. Carl Wilson-Denis made it 3-0 soon after the interval and Lee Hall completed the scoring 13 minutes into the half.

Walton Casuals continue their vain quest for their first home win of the season after going down 2-1 to Eastbourne, who took a fifth minute lead through Ethan Strevett and doubled it after 25 minutes with a goal by John Lansdale.

Harry Hoadley pulled one back shortly before the break but, despite dominating the second half, Casuals (whose keeper Gareth Williams is pictured by Chris Bushe) were left to contemplate a 14th unsuccessful outing on home turf. They have six victories on the road.

The pitch at Horsham survived a morning inspection but the boggy surface did neither side any favours as the Hornets slogged out a 0-0 draw with Walton & Hersham. Adam Hutchings came closest with a header that landed on the Walton bar.