The Stones will play Aveley on Wednesday night at the Gallagher Stadium. Maidstone thrashed Hampton and Richmond Borough in the perfect end to the regular season but results elsewhere mean that they will take part in a play-off eliminator match.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, Maidstone couldn’t have wished for a better start. Sol Wanjau-Smith saw a patch of space for Harry Kyprianou to run into and his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Sam Corne’s delivery went across to Bivesh Gurung and he picked out Corne again who lifted the ball to the back post and with two minutes gone, Reece Greenidge nodded it into the net.

Hampton got themselves level on 17 minutes. Ben Seymour appeared to be in an offside position as he raced clear but Lucas Covolan did well to make a save with his legs. From the corner, Sam Deadfield found Dean Inman who scored with a header.

There was then little to choose between the two sides until the end of the half. Greenidge found himself in an advanced position and he passed to Matt Rush who laid the ball into the path of Kyprianou whose effort was high and wide. Meanwhile, for Hampton and Richmond Borough, good work from George Hunt created a chance for Mason Bloomfield but he missed the target with a shot from close to the edge of the box.

Just as it appeared the teams would go in level at the break, the Stones scored one of their finest goals of the season. Maidstone kept possession in and around the box well before the ball was played to Jephte Tanga and he crossed for Corne who lashed a fabulous volley into the net.

Early in the second half, Matt Rush did well to lay the ball into the path of Tanga in midfield. Tanga quickly worked it to Sol Wanju-Smith as Maidstone broke with pace. Wanju-Smith had much to do once he got in the box but as he went to turn back to find support, he was tripped by Sam Dreyer. Corne stepped up to take the penalty and he fired in his second goal of the afternoon.

Then on 73 minutes, the Stones made sure of the victory. Maidstone had just lost one of their most consistent players of the season – George Fowler – to injury when substitute Michael Adu-Poku put a low ball across the six yard box which was turned in by Rush.

Hampton soon had Adam Desbois to thank for keeping the score down. First of all he denied Tanga and then just as it seemed certain Adu-Poku would bury the rebound, he got back up to stop Adu-Poku’s shot.

Maidstone turned on the style with eight minutes remaining. The ball came to Matt Bentley who was 25 yards out from goal. There appeared to be nothing on but Bentley unleashed a screamer which flew past Desbois for another contender for goal of the season.

Maidstone United: Reece Greenidge 2, Sam Corne 44, 54 (pen), Matt Rush 73, Matt Bentley 82

Hampton and Richmond Borough: Dean Inman 17

Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 4. Reece Greenidge, 5. George Fowler (15. Sam Bone 71), 6. Raphe Brown, 17. Jephte Tanga, 8. Sam Corne, 18. Bivesh Gurung, 14. Harry Kyprianou, 16. Matt Bentley, 20. Matt Rush (11. Mo Faal 80), 9. Sol Wanjau-Smith (7. Michael Adu-Poku 69). Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 19. Michael Klass.

Hampton and Richmond Borough: 19. Adam Desbois, 34. Dom Revan, 4. Dean Inman, 5. Luis Fernandez, 14. Sam Dreyer (29. Alex Gibson-Hammond 71), 25. Isaac Pitblado (21. Shane Dunne 78), 11. Sam Deadfield, 12. George Hunt, 35. Joshua Anifowose (3. Ruaridh Donaldson 56), 26. Mason Bloomfield, 9. Ben Seymour. Subs not used: 7. Rob Hall, 13. Tope Fadahunsi.