Saturday's Ryman South action review

Indeed, it could have been worse for Neil Cugley`s side as the home side led 2-1 thanks to a brace from Saido Khan after two and 33 minutes – Ian Draycott sandwiching a reply on 24 minutes – right until stoppage time. Ronnie Dolan then popped up to salvage a point for the long-time leaders.

Second-placed Worthing ensured they pulled a couple of points back on Invicta after securing a comfortable 4-1 win at Molesey.

Ben Pope gave the Rebels a 13th minute lead that Lloyd Dawes doubled 10 minutes later. Reis Stanislaus reduced the deficit six minutes later but Dawes` second on 65 minutes stretched the visitors` advantage to 3-1.

The Moles then had full-back Joe Pratley-Jones shown a straight red card for bringing down Pope with 20 minutes to go but Worthing were only able to add one more to their tally through Matt Axell in injury-time.

Two of the other top five sides also won on Saturday. The exception were Guernsey, who went down to a 2-0 defeat at the Pilot Field to Hastings United in front of a crowd of 384.

The Sussex side boosted their own top five hopes with a brace from Billy Medlock in the 60th and 66th minutes to end the Channel Islanders` nine-match unbeaten run.

Herne Bay are third after smashing seven without reply at Winch`s Field against third-bottom Peacehaven & Telscombe.

Sam Hasler with two and Joe Nelder made it 3-0 at half-time. But the Seasiders swiftly made it 6-0 with a double from Danny Walder and one from Mark Lovell before the hour-mark, with sub Elliot Cutts adding the seventh nine minutes from time.

Fifth-placed Dorking Wanderers had a much tougher examination at Chatham Town before winning a best-of-five goal encounter at The Sports Ground.

It looked plain sailing for the visitors as they raced into a 3-0 lead by the 33rd minute, thanks to Tom Tolfrey with two, sandwiched by a Tommy Hutchings effort before the Chats reduced the deficit four minutes later through Jack Jeffrey. The home side then made it a nervy end when they pulled it back to 2-3 through Liam Hickey with four minutes left.

Sixth-placed Faversham Town maintained their top five challenge with a hard-fought 2-1 derby win at the Shepherd Neame Stadium against bottom-markers Whitstable Town in front of a decent crowd of 356.

Charley Robertson gave the home side a 25th minute lead that Matt Bourne eventually added to on 66 minutes. Charlie Smith reduced the arrears three minutes later, but the Oystermen were unable to find a leveller.

The battle for a top five spot is very tight, with Whyteleafe, currently twelfth, just six points behind Dorking Wanderers in fifth.

Ramsgate and Carshalton Athletic are in that pack, but the Rams severely dented the Robins confidence after a 7-1 hammering at Southwood.

It was a very special day for the Rams` Joe Taylor, who notched five of the seven, including two second half penalties – the second of which 10 minutes from time saw the dismissal of Carshalton`s Liam Gordon.

Craig Thompson began the rout after 13 minutes and Ian Pulman scored the other, with Moses Ashikodi scoring what could hardly be described as a consolation for the Robins after 32 minutes.

The `Leafe were only able to draw 1-1 at home to Three Bridges, with both goals coming in the opening 15 minutes – Jamie Byatt giving the hosts a 12th minute lead that Jamie Crellin cancelled out.

Hythe Town are also in that group and they secured a comfortable 4-0 Reachfields Stadium win over struggling Walton & Hersham.

Town scored two in each half, Louis Sprosen and Frankie Sawyer in the opening period and then Sawyer again and Jack Harris in the second.

Elsewhere, Kervant Serbony scored for Corinthian-Casuals after eight minutes at South Park, who salvaged a draw with a 70th minute Kieran Lavery equaliser.

Tooting & Mitcham United secured a good 3-0 win at Woodstock Park against Sittingbourne with goals from Jake Baxter after 48 minutes, Serge Makofo just past the hour-mark and then Jordan Wilson three minutes from time.

Two teams in the bottom half, Walton Casuals and East Grinstead Town, met at the Moatside Stadium, with Scott Day`s second half brace overturning Goldy Capela`s 11th minute opener for the visiting Wasps.

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