PROMOTION PUSH ON TRACK AFTER EARLY ABDULLA GOAL

WHITEHAWK profited from the top two playing each other to cut the gap to the automatic promotion place to four points after a 1-0 home win against

Sittingbourne.

Ahmed Abdulla headed the only goal of the game from a Dave Martin free-kick with Sittingbourne goalkeeper Jordan Perrin stranded.

Whitehawk were well on top and pushed for a second before surviving a late scare as James Broadbent stopped Ainsley Everett’s powerful long-range strike to claim the three points and cut the gap to leaders Hastings United to four points.

Play-off chasing Herne Bay made a fast start at Hanbury Stadium to beat Haywards

Heath 2-0 and maintain their five-point cushion to

Whyteleafe in sixth.

Both goals came in the first 30 minutes with Tushaun-Tyreese Walters putting The Bay ahead before striker Zak Ansah doubled their advantage.

Bay could have added a third in the closing stages as Ansah squared the ball to Kyron Lightfoot, but the substitute slipped at the vital moment.

A goal in each half from Ryan Gondoh earned Whyteleafe their first win in three games and dented any lingering play-off hopes for their hosts Sevenoaks Town.

Gondoh opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a calm finish before doubling his tally midway through the second half. Chichester were also able to keep their play-off charge alive by leapfrogging Guernsey into seventh with a 3-0 win.

The visitors dominated proceedings and got the goal they deserved on the stroke of half-time through Kaleem Haitham.

There was some confusion at Footes Lane as the goal was initially ruled out by the assistant before the decision was overturned by the referee.

The Lillywhites made their dominance pay in the second-half, scoring with a clever finish from Gicu Lordache.

After surviving some late Guernsey pressure, midfielder

Josh Clack made the win secure with a 90th minute third.

In an entertaining clash at The Oakwood, VCD Athletic struck late to salvage a point against Hythe Town.

Athletic opened the scoring in the first half through Ali Fuseini before Laurent Mendy’s header crashed back off the crossbar.

After the interval, Fuseini had another couple of chances to double VCD’s lead but could not convert as Alex Flisher struck back for Hythe in the 73rd minute.

Moments later Flisher bagged his second to turn the game on its head before Fuseini scored in the 89th minute as both sides shared the spoils.

Ramsgate earned a vital point in their fight to avoid the drop at mid-table Whitstable Town.

The visitors had taken the lead in the 16th minute through Tom Chapman but were pegged back just after half-time by Harry Stannard’s strike.

With East Grinstead winning at Three Bridges, the point maintains Ramsgate’s buffer to the relegation zone at six points while also cutting the gap to Bridges to two.

Mason Doughty’s late winner earned

Burgess Hill Town the win against Faversham Town at

Salters Lane.

Doughty followed up to smash home the rebound after Aaron Smith-Joseph had seen his penalty saved by Faversham goalkeeper Luke Watkins.

Burgess Hill led at half-time thanks to Charlie Bennett heading home Smith-Joseph’s corner but allowed Faversham back into the game.

With the clock ticking down Smith-Joseph burst through on goal and was dragged down by Aaron Ibe, who was sent off.

Doughty was on hand to secure the points and move Burgess Hill up to 15th.