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Isthmian League round-up: Margate keep Premier Division survival hopes alive; South East title rivals Ramsgate and Cray Valley both win while Sittingbourne clinch third place

Margate are still in there fighting for their Isthmian Premier future after winning their penultimate match of the season.

Mark Stimson’s side continued their late rally with a 2-1 home victory over fourth-placed Wingate & Finchley.

Joe Tyrie (grounded) scores Sittingbourne's second at Phoenix. Picture: Alan Coomes
Joe Tyrie (grounded) scores Sittingbourne's second at Phoenix. Picture: Alan Coomes

That moved them level on points with drop rivals Cheshunt, who play their game in hand at home to Horsham on Tuesday night.

A win for Cheshunt would effectively relegate Margate, given their considerable goal-difference advantage, but anything less and a final-day great escape could still be on for the Blues.

Jeremiah Pinder broke the deadlock against Wingate just after the break and while Ruben Carvalho levelled, Ben Greenhalgh scored a 68th-minute winner for Stimson’s men.

Folkestone fought back from 3-0 down to draw with Dulwich Hamlet in a thrilling match at Cheriton Road.

Hamlet, manager by ex-Maidstone boss Hakan Hayrettin, took charge with early goals from Josh Shonibare, Danny Milles and Ryley Scott.

Seidou Sanogo replied before half-time, with late goals from Eddie Allsopp and David Smith rescuing a point for Invicta.

Nyren Clunis gave Cray Wanderers a seventh-minute lead against Bognor Regis but the visitors recovered to win 5-1.

Chatham have Enfield breathing down their necks in the race for second place after losing 3-1 at home to Horsham.

Player-assistant Danny Kedwell scored in added time after goals from Reece Myles-Meekums, Daniel Ajakaiye and Jack Mazzone put the visitors in command.

Gabby Piorkowski gets away from Adejola Lahan during Sittingbourne's win at Phoenix. Picture: Alan Coomes
Gabby Piorkowski gets away from Adejola Lahan during Sittingbourne's win at Phoenix. Picture: Alan Coomes

Chats are now only two points clear of third-placed Enfield, who have a game in hand.

It’s as you were in the Isthmian South East title battle, with the top two still separated by goal difference.

Joe Taylor scored a hat-trick, making it 52 goals for the season, as leaders Ramsgate won 4-2 at Chichester.

An own goal put Rams in front and while Josh Clack levelled, a pair of Taylor penalties gave the visitors a 3-1 half-time lead.

Clack scored from the spot shortly after the restart but Taylor completed his hat-trick to clinch victory.

Second-placed Cray Valley were also 4-2 winners as Herne Bay were put to the sword at Badgers.

Kyrell Lisbie, Sonny Black and Adam Coombes put the Millers 3-0 up after half an hour.

Bay top scorer Michael Salako pulled one back and defender Liam Friend added a late consolation after Matty Vigor restored the hosts’ three-goal advantage.

Cray Valley will go top if they avoid defeat in their game in hand at Hythe on Tuesday night.

A win would put them three points clear going into the final day.

Sittingbourne clinched third place and home advantage in the play-off semi-finals after a 2-1 win at Phoenix Sports.

Sittingbourne goalscorer Mitchell May is tackled by Ross Craig of Phoenix. Picture: Alan Coomes
Sittingbourne goalscorer Mitchell May is tackled by Ross Craig of Phoenix. Picture: Alan Coomes

Mitchell May and Joe Tyrie struck for Ryan Maxwell’s side, with Adejola Lahan pulling a goal back.

Sheppey climbed to seventh place after a fourth straight win.

A pay-what-you-want offer attracted a bumper crowd of 1,575 as the Ites beat relegated Erith & Belvedere 3-0 at Holm Park.

James Taylor broke the deadlock midway through the first half, with Dan Bradshaw’s penalty and a Jacob Lambert strike securing the points.

Hythe conceded twice in injury time as Sammy Moore’s first game in charge ended in defeat.

Tadley Bromage and Sam Lemon struck at the death as Broadbridge Heath inflicted a 2-0 loss.

Sevenoaks also shipped two goals in added time to lose at Three Bridges.

Oaks looked set for three points after Daniel Bennett’s 51st-minute opener but a late Brannon O’Neill double turned the match on its head.

Ashford levelled from 2-0 down at Lancing but the hosts hit back to win 4-2.

Noah Carney scored twice in five minutes before the break, including a penalty for his first goal.

Lancing went back in front before the hour mark and completed victory with a late fourth.

Ben Pope, Noel Fisher and Lukas Franzen-Jones (2) were their scorers.

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