Southern Counties East Premier Division and Isthmian League weekend round-ups as Faversham Town go top thanks to a Stefan Payne hat-trick over Punjab United

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.

Experienced hitman Dean Grant was another player to claim a brace as Hollands & Blair came from behind to win 3-1 at second-bottom Welling Town.

Kweku Ansah put Welling Town in front but they were reduced to 10 players and Grant equalised in first-half stoppage time.

Substitute Harvey Welford set him up for his second, and although Grant missed a penalty and a chance for his hat-trick, Welford did seal the victory in the 88th minute.

Player-of-the-match Ben Chapman marked his 200th Deal Town performance in style in their 2-1 home win against Corinthian.

With home players wearing black armbands in remembrance of director and fixture secretary Colin Adams after his death was announced in the week, a minute’s silence was held before the game at the Charles Sports Ground, played in front of a crowd of 475.

Jamie Billings put the away side ahead in the first half