It was an afternoon to forget for Maidstone United as they were comfortably beaten by Weston-Super-Mare. The Stones’ chances of having a home game in the playoffs have taken a serious knock, and Maidstone will now be anxiously looking over their shoulder after the Seagulls moved to within a point of them.

With just six minutes played, Luke Coulsdon slipped the ball to Jordan Bastin and he squared it to Samuel Pearson who flicked the ball past Alexis Andre Jr at the near post to give Weston-Super-Mare the lead.

The Stones’ only real opportunity in the in the first 45 minutes came not long after this. Sol Wanju-Smith did well to find Sam Corne and when Corne tried to return the ball to Wanju-Smith, keeper Max Harris made the block.

There were appeals from the home side crowd when James Dodd tried to find Pearson who went down in the box but no penalty was forthcoming. However, Maidstone were reduced to ten men two minutes before the break. Jordan Higgs was adjudged to have denied a clear goal scoring opportunity as he pulled back Pearson and he was shown a straight red card.

The Stones looked brighter in the early stages after the interval but it was Weston who nearly scored again. Will Dawes’ effort was on target but Andre Jr made a smart stop.

Coulsdon’s corner then picked out the unmarked Joshua Seberry. Soberly was well placed but he headed the ball down and wide.

Any hopes Maidstone had of getting something from the game were extinguished two minutes from time. Coulson’s effort from distance took a deflection as it flew past Andre Jr.

Then in stoppage time, the Seagulls rounded off the scoring. Coulson found substitute Pedro Borges who finished neatly into the net.

Weston-Super-Mare: Samuel Pearson 6, Luke Coulson 88, Pedro Borges 90

Maidstone United: –

Weston-Super-Mare: 1. Max Harris, 3. Jordan Bastin, 4. Dylan Kadji (16. Pedro Borges 84), 6.Samuel Avery, 7. Jacob Jagger-Cane, 8. James Dodd, 9. Reuben Reid (19. Louis Britton 80), 10. Samuel Pearson (17. James Waite 90), 11. Luke Coulson (20. Jamie Soule 90), 14. Joshua Seberry, 18. Will Dawes (12. Ollie Jenkins 90). Subs not used: –

Maidstone United:1. Alexis Andre Jr, 11. Charlie Seaman, 5. George Fowler, 2. Temi Eweka, 3. Ben Brookes (Harry Kyprianou 74), 7. Jordan Higgs, 8. Sam Corne, 16. Tayt Trusty (Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong 66), 19. Tom Leahy (12. Pharrell Willis 79), 15. Sol Wanju-Smith (Sam Corne 74), 9. Aaron Blair. Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden.