Maidstone United’s play-off hopes have taken a dent as they were beaten by St Albans City. The result means City have done the double over the Stones.

Maidstone found themselves a man down and trailing at the break. But they could have taken a very early lead. With just two minutes gone, Sam Corne’s free-kick picked out the unmarked Reece Greenidge and his tame header went straight at Michael Johnson who conceded a corner. From this, Corne found Greenidge again and his header was blocked.

Not long after this, Mo Faal stood up a cross. Lamar Reynolds was on the end of it and he had time to bring it down but he went for a first time header and Johnson made a simple stop.

Then with 21 minutes gone, St Albans took the lead with their first opportunity. Jake Burger did well to slip the ball into the prolific Shaun Jeffers and with Lucas Covolan diving early, Jeffers’ scuffed finish had enough on it to go into the net.

Joe Partington was booked for bringing down Matt Rush as Rush tried to get on the end of a Corne pass. And just two minutes later, Partington was perhaps lucky to remain on the field as he fouled Chi Enzennolim close to the touchline and just outside the box.

Three minutes from the break though, it was the Stones who found themselves a man down. George Fowler was shown a straight red card for a foul on Banton in midfield.

In first half stoppage time, Corne put a lovely ball into Rush. Rush took a touch to create room for a shot and this fizzed all the way across goal and wide of the far post.

Not long after the break, Dom Hutchinson showed good feet and made room to find Gio Rasulo. Rasulo only had Covolan to beat but the Maidstone keeper made an excellent block. However, on 58 minutes, St Albans did double their lead when Rasulo’s lob had enough on it to drop into the net.

City should then put the game beyond doubt. Burger, who is on-loan from Luton Town, played the ball into Ben Smith and he was close to the near post but he lifted the ball wide.

Within two minutes, Maidstone found a way back into the game. Jephte Tanga did well down the left and put in a cross to Rush who took a touch and squeezed the ball past Johnson who got his hands to the ball but couldn’t keep it out. But St Albans saw out the remaining moments well to ensure they held on for all three points.

Maidstone United: Matt Rush 76

St Albans City Shaun Jeffers 21, Gio Rasulo 58

Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 10. Lamar Reynolds, 4. Reece Greenidge, 19. Paul Appiah, 5. George Fowler, 3. Chi Ezennolim (6. Raphe Brown 64), 7. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong (18. Bivesh Gurung 81), 8. Sam Corne, 17. Jephte Tanga, 11. Mo Faal (16. Liam Sole 64), 20. Matt Rush. Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 19. Riley Court.

St Albans City: 1. Michael Johnson, 2. Jack James (22. Kyran Wiltshire 55), 3. Sam Brown, 4. Ben Smith, 8. Giorgio Rasulo, 11. Zane Banton, 14. Joe Partington (6. Michael Clark 75), 15. Dominic Hutchinson , 9. Shaun Jeffers (12. Mitchell Weiss 71), 18. Aidan Francis-Clarke, 19. Jake Burger. Subs not used: 5. Dan Bowry, 31. Benjamin Mensa