Stones set stage for showdown

Maidstone fielded debutant Jon Harley, a member of Chelsea’s squad for the 2000 FA Cup final, but struggled to beat mid-table Eastbourne 2-0 in front of 1,657 at the Gallagher Stadium.

They took the lead with a 42nd-minute penalty from Shaun Welford but failed to add to it until the fifth minute of added time, when Ade Olurunda hit the clincher. Stones remain three points clear of Dulwich, whom they visit on Tuesday in a potential title decider.

Dulwich, who have a game in hand, maintained their challenge by beating visitors Whitstable 3-0. The first half, played in a blizzard, was goalless and the hard-working Oystermen had slightly the better of things, though it was Dulwich who looked more likely to score.

They broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion ten minutes after the break, when Nyren Clunis crashed home an unstoppable drive from 25 yards.

Liverpool trialist Danny Carr nodded a second from close range three minutes later and Xavier Vidal added a tap-in after 79 minutes.

Although they have that game in hand, Dulwich are ten behind Stones on goal difference, a margin exactly accounted for by their 5-0 defeat at Maidstone, a result they will hope to avenge this week.

Third-placed Faversham suffered a setback when they lost 2-1 at home to Worthing after playing for most of the game with ten men.

Worthing had the chance to take a 12th-minute lead when Jamie Brotherton was fouled but Simon Overland saved Billy Medlock’s kick.

Dave Botterill put Faversham ahead ten minutes later, only for them to lose Wayne Wilson for a reckless tackle almost as soon as the game restarted.

Worthing made their extra man count after the break.
Brotherton had a goal disallowed in the first minute of the half but he had better luck in the 50th minute and netted his second 14 minutes later.

The Rebels are within four points of the play-off places but have only six games to play, fewer than any other club in the league.

In the only other match that took place, Folkestone stormed back into the top five by thrashing visitors Walton & Hersham 5-0.

They went ahead with a Darren Smith penalty after only three minutes, Richard Atkins made it 2-0 in the 16th minute from Smith’s pass and Josh Burchell, who had been fouled for the penalty, added the third before the interval.

Any prospect of a comeback vanished in the 57th minute when Swans keeper Audie Matheson-Light was ordered off for bringing down Burchell and Smith scored from the resulting free-kick. Frankie Chappell wrapped it up with a last-minute header.