Hat-trick hero Stefan Payne ensured Faversham went top of the Southern Counties East Premier Division with a home win over fellow promotion-chasers Punjab United on Saturday.
Striker Payne netted two in the first three minutes and, although Youssef Bamba replied for the away team shortly before half-time at Salters Lane in front of a crowd of 324, he got his third in the 87th minute.
It marked a positive end to a tough week for the Lilywhites, chucked out of the FA Vase four days earlier, as on-loan Gillingham keeper Taite Holtam got the nod ahead of Lewis Briggs, who had briefly been Faversham’s first-choice having come through from the under-23s.
Two-goal Trevor McCreadie helped steer Tunbridge Wells to a 3-0 home triumph against Whitstable. Attacker Festos Kamara broke the deadlock before striker McCreadie bagged a brace, the second coming from the penalty spot.