Saturday's Ryman Premier action review

Margate extended their lead at the top of the Ryman Premier to five points on Saturday by beating struggling VCD Athletic 3-0, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

With second-placed Maidstone United, who now possess four games in hand, on FA Cup duty on Sunday, Gate had their game at Oakwood virtually won inside the opening 34 minutes. Ryan Moss put Terry Brown's side in front after only two minutes and less than a minute later Luke Moore doubled their advantage.

Defender Tambeson Eyong than made it 3-0 after 34 minutes, and while there were no further goals, it was comfortable enough for the leaders.

Hendon are third and now an impressive ten points in front of sixth-placed Metropolitan Police after edging out Grays Athletic by the odd goal in five at Earlsmead.

As at VCD, the victors enjoyed a great start when Sam Murphy put the Greens in front from the penalty spot inside three minutes. Kezie Ibe doubled the home side`s lead just before half-time and then Kevin McLaren surely made the game safe when he added a third with less than eight minutes remaining. But a Freddie Ladapo brace in stoppage time caused a really nervy finale.

Leiston moved into fourth spot after a 3-1 success at the Prospects Stadium against ten-man Canvey Island.

Once more there was a really early goal as the Suffolk side took a first-minute lead through Tom Winter. Jay Curran pulled the Gulls back on level terms in the 15th minute but they had defender John Easterford sent-off for two bookable offences seconds before half-time.

Eight minutes into the second half the ten-men were up against it as Winter score his second to give Leiston the lead, and then Gareth Heath made it 3-1 just four minutes later.

Met Police`s hopes of displacing Dulwich Hamlet in fifth was spoiled by the rain as their game at Imber Court against Witham Town was abandoned after 75 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch with the Met leading 2-1.

Harrow Borough moved off bottom spot after a 1-0 win at Kingsmeadow against out-of-sorts Kingstonian, Nik Salapatas scoring the only goal of the game after 32 minutes.

AFC Hornchurch are back on the bottom after losing 2-1 at Peacehaven & Telscombe.

Ashley Jones gave the Sussex side the lead five minutes before half-time. Joey May equalised seven minutes into the second half, only for Tom Burton to grab the home side`s winner in time added on at the end of the game.

Another struggler, Lewes, made it three successive wins – two in the league – after winning by the same scoreline at Fetcham Grove against Leatherhead, courtesy of Sam Cole`s 57th minute effort.

Bognor Regis Town edged out Wingate & Finchley by the odd goal in five at Nyewood Lane to move to within a couple of points of their seventh-placed visitors.

David Knight gave Wingate an eighth minute lead that Ben Johnson cancelled out from the spot after 23 minutes. Tommy Tejan-Sie restored the visitors` advantage in the 37th minute, only for Johnson to equalise with another spot-kick five minutes later. And Jason Prior won it for the Rocks with 11 minutes of the game to go.

Billericay Town took the honours at Longmead against inconsistent Tonbridge Angels, Jacob Cleaver scoring what proved to be the match-winner with 11 minutes remaining.