Maidstone United turned the tables after the clubs’ first meeting at the Kuflink Stadium this season went the Fleet’s way by securing the three points at the Gallagher.

Early pressure from the Fleet saw the ball fall at the feet of Ben Chapman on the edge of the area. He tried his luck with a volley but that effort went over the bar. Seconds later, Kwesi Appiah found himself in a promising position and he sent his header over goalkeeper Nathan Harness, but George Fowler was there to clear.

Continuing the pressure inside the opening 10 minutes, the Fleet almost made the most of a mistake by Taylor Foran that let Charlie Seaman on to the ball. He fired a low shot towards goal but that was palmed away by Harness.

Against the run of play, Maidstone opened the scoring on 13 minutes with their first real chance of the match. Mo Faal’s initial shot deflected across goal to force a save from Matt Hall but arriving on to the loose ball was Jephte Tanga who slotted the ball home to give the Stones an early advantage. 

The Fleet thought they had found an instant equaliser after Mustapha Olagunju headed the ball home at the far post from a corner delivery but the referee blew for an apparent foul that the visiting players disputed.

And a second arrived for the Stones out of the blue when a long kick from Harness picked out Deon Moore who found himself through on goal and he was able to loop the ball over Hall to double the hosts’ advantage.

Play settled for the remainder of the half although Hall pulled off a save at the near post and Faal sent a shot just over the bar. At the other end, Kennedy’s promising cross was claimed by Harness.

Into the second half and the the Fleet almost instantly pulled one back when Kwesi Appiah met with Seaman’s cross into the area and Harness was forced to instinctively tip his effort over the crossbar.

Minutes later and following some neat football in the Maidstone half, Dom Samuel whipped a cross over to substitute Josh Coley who slid in at close range but lifted the ball over.

The Fleet continued to look for a way back into the game and Samuel went close, his close range header on target was again turned away for a corner by Harness. 

Hall made an excellent save at full stretch from Faal at the other end before the third goal did arrive for the Stones on 69 minutes. An awkward delivery from Tanga took a deflection off Josh Passley’s outstretched leg to send it away from Hall and over the line.

The Fleet continued to try their luck as Samuel sent a curling effort from outside the box wide and Finlay Barnes dispatched another from 18 yards but it was to no avail as Maidstone took the points. Fleet’s next chance to build another winning run comes at home to Maidenhead United this Saturday.

EUFC: Hall, Passley, Coker (Coley 46), Ehmer (Nelson 46), Olagunju, Hessenthaler (Edser 62), Kennedy, Chapman, Seaman, Appiah (Barnes 70), Samuel.

Subs not used: Cosgrave, Manktelow, Macaulay

MUFC: Harness, Fowler, Hamblin, Foran, Corne, Bramble (Gilbert 64), Sesay (Papadopoulos 76), Court, Tanga, Faal (Agbontohoma 87), Moore (Kargbo 76).

Subs not used: Holden.

Attendance: 2,085 (316 EUFC)

Photos: ©EUFC/Ed Miller, Tom Harris