Southern Counties East League weekend round-up as defender Tom Fitzgerald scores hat-trick in Corinthian’s 4-1 win over Snodland Town; VCD Athletic, Faversham Town and Whitstable Town among those victorious in the Premier Division

Defender Tom Fitzgerald bagged a hat-trick in Corinthian’s Southern Counties East Premier Division win over Snodland on Saturday.

Forward Henry Arnold put Michael Golding’s men into a ninth-minute lead, only for forward Nathan Jeche to equalise for Snodland with a penalty.

But Fitzgerald then took over in remarkable style with a goal in the first half and two more after the break in Corinthian’s 4-1 home victory that leaves last term’s play-off finalists in fifth spot.

Premier Division leaders VCD bounced back from their first league loss of the campaign with a 4-2 victory at home to Kennington.

Goals from Lee Bird and Bethel Gboda sandwiched an Ollie Freeman brace as the Vickers raced into a 4-0 half-time advantage and, while Ton got on the scoresheet through Adam Phillips and captain Tom Scorer, the damage had been done.

Faversham also responded to a midweek defeat, winning 3-1 at home to Stansfeld in front of a crowd of 349 at Salters Lane to move up to second.

Johan Caney-Bryan gave them a second-minute advantage.

The visitors replied through Ibrahim Barrie but Caney-Bryan repeated the dose - also striking early in the second period - before fellow forward Tashi-Jay Kwayie got Town’s third.

Tommy Warrilow’s Lilywhites took advantage of a slip-up by third-placed Punjab, beaten 4-1 at second-bottom Lydd.

Jack Hopkins gave Chipie Sian’s side a half-time lead but they then had Jordan Campbell sent-off as second-half strikes by Sam Adams, Ronnie Dolan, Stefan Payne and substitute Tom Walmsley allowed the Lydders to make full use of their numerical advantage.

Matt Day scored late to rescue a point for Larkfield & New Hythe from their 1-1 Premier Division draw at Holmesdale.

Mid-table Whitstable struck twice in quick