Whitstable track Ramsgate on Saturday Picture: Paul Dennis

Sittingbourne stepped up their Ryman League, Division 1 South, promotion push with an impressive 5-0 victory at Walton & Hersham on Saturday.

Top scorer Ryan Golding led the way with a hat-trick, including two penalties, and Joe Taylor also scored from the spot for the Brickies whose tally was completed by a late own goal.

Sittingbourne are now eight points behind leaders Dulwich Hamlet who underlined their title credentials with a 2-0 victory at Folkestone Invicta. Both goals came in the second half, the first an own goal by Liam Friend followed by a strike from Erhun Otzumer.

Second-placed Maidstone United had to come from 2-0 down at half-time to salvage a point at home to Crawley Down. Substitute Ade Olorunda scored twice for the Stones to cancel out goals by Jamie Cade and Fraser Logan.

Hythe Town slipped to sixth after their 3-2 defeat at Tooting & Mitcham. They led 2-1 with six minutes to go through goals by Dave Cook and Jake Hobbs, only for Tooting to snatch victory through a double strike by Laurent Hamici. Tyrone Berry had earlier equalised for the home side in the first half.

A first-half goal by Ian Pulman against his former club was enough to give Ramsgate a 1-0 victory at Whitstable.

The games between Burgess Hill and Herne Bay and Horsham and Faversham were both postponed and the same fate befell the Ryman League, Premier Division, game between Margate and Leiston.

In Ryman 1 North, Thamesmead eased to a 4-0 win over Ilford through goals by Ashley Probets (2), Stuart Zanone and Lea Dawson. But it was a miserable day for Chatham who were beaten 5-1 by Aveley, with Lee Hales scoring the Chats goal.