It was an excellent afternoon for Maidstone United as they thumped fellow play-off contenders Boreham Woods. After a comfortable victory away at Hampton and Richmond Borough last weekend, George Elokobi unsurprisingly named an unchanged line up. And by half time of this match, the Stones had cruised into a 3-0 lead.

Boreham Wood looked dangerous early on, with long balls over the top looking for former Stones player Matt Rush. It was Maidstone who created the first opportunities though. With seven minutes gone, Ben Brookes whipped in a delightful delivery and Aaron Blair headed over. Then a long ball into the channel from Charlie Seaman was taken to the by-line by Blair. He crossed for Sol Wanju-Smith who saw his effort blocked by Jack Payne for a corner.

There was a then a lengthy stoppage after Josh Hare received treatment for a head injury. This would eventually lead to him being replaced by Charlie O’Connell but not before Nathan Ashmore decided he also needed the physio’s attention. The upshot was there was ten minutes of additional time at the end of the first half.

After the game resumed, it wasn’t long before Alexis Andre Jr was called into action to make an important save to deny Erico Sousa. And with 35 minutes gone, Maidstone took the lead. Seaman’s long throw was flicked on by Temi Eweka and Wanju-Smith’s header snuck over the line off the underside of the bar.

Nine minutes later, Tom Leahy passed to Sam Corne who found Seaman on the right. Seaman’s inviting cross was met by Wanju-Smith and Nathan Ashmore perhaps should have done better after he got his hands to the ball but he pushed the ball into the net.

Three minutes into the additional time at the end of the half, a corner from Brookes was interrupted as the referee, George Laflin, blew for pushing in the box. Brookes assumed responsibility for the spot kick and he lashed a fine penalty past Ashmore.

Early in the second half, Bivesh Gurung picked up a loose ball deep in the Boreham Wood half. He picked out Blair who hit a rising effort which thumped into the advertising boards above the goal at the Town End.

The Wood then made a double substitution, with former Maidstone player, Jon Benton, who had been anonymous, and O’Connell, who had replaced Hare, making way for Abdul Adulmalik and Charles Clayden. Matters didn’t improve for the visitors though as on 65 minutes, a Brookes throw was controlled by Leahy and he picked out the unmarked George Fowler who lashed the ball in from about 12 yards out.

Late on, substitute Tyrone Marsh’s rising shot was pushed over the bar by Andre Jr. Not long after this, the ball fell to substitute Cameron Coxe who was in a good position but his sliced effort went well wide to ensure Maidstone recorded an impressive 22nd league clean sheet of the season.

Maidstone United: Sol Wanju-Smith 35, 44, Ben Brookes 45 (pen), George Fowler 65

Boreham Wood: –

Maidstone United:1. Alexis Andre Jr, 11. Charlie Seaman, 5. George Fowler, 2. Temi Eweka, 3. Ben Brookes, 7. Jordan Higgs, 8. Sam Corne, 18. Bivesh Gurung (20. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong 80), 19. Tom Leahy (10. Shaq Coulthirst 80), 15. Sol Wanju-Smith (12. Pharrell Willis 84), 9. Aaron Blair. Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden, 16. Tayt Trusty.

Boreham Wood: 1. Nathan Ashmore, 12. Josh Hare (15. Charlie O’Connell 33 (17. Charles Clayden 64)), 16. Callum Reynolds, 23. Joe Rye, 26. Jayden Richardson, 8. Mo Sagaf, 11. Jon Benton (20. Abdul Abdulmalik 64), 4. Jack Payne, 19. Erico Sousa (2. Cameron Coxe 78) 18. Junior Dixon (10. Tyrone Marsh 78), 32. Matt Rush. Subs not used: –