There was a defeat on the road for Maidstone United as they let slip a 2-1 lead away at St Albans.

The home side could have scored twice before they did take the lead on 20 minutes. Their first chance came when Gio Rasulo found himself in space inside the box only for Lucas Covolan to make a good stop with his legs.

Shortly after this, Jack James was able to pick his way into a decent position. He only had Covolan to beat but the Maidstone keeper stood tall at his near post and made the block.

However, the home side did finally break the deadlock. Raphe Brown initially did well to tackle Rasulo but the St Albans player regained possession and forced Covolan into another good save.

From the resultant corner, the ball came to George Hoddle who picked his spot and drilled the ball through a crowd of players into the net.

Maidstone quickly turned the game around though with two goals inside two minutes. A corner from Sam Corne was headed home by George Fowler and then, Levi Amantchi expertly held the ball up before slipping a delightful ball into Matt Rush who dispatched an exquisite finish past Josh McNamara.

With 36 minutes gone, Maidstone went close again. Once more a Corne corner picked out a Stones player and Amantchi’s header was going in until McNamara expertly tipped it over the bar.

The Stones should have pulled further ahead early in the second half. Rush did well down the right and pulled the ball back to Amantchi whose side footed effort crashed off the bar. Then Amantchi found himself baring down on McNamara but a heavy touch meant he was forced to go round the keeper and the opportunity fizzled out.

Maidstone were made to pay for not taking their chances on 56 minutes. Rasulo played in substitute Shaun Jeffers who fired past Covolan and then 11 minutes later, Mitchell Weiss put an inciting low ball into the box which Jack James converted.

Late on St Albans should have made sure of the victory. James went running down the right and he was denied by Covolan’s legs. Then in stoppage time, Corne’s free-kick from just outside the area thudded inches wide as the Saints held on for the victory.

St Albans City: George Hoddle 20, Shaun Jeffers 56, Jack James 67

Maidstone United: George Fowler 24, Matt Rush 25

St Albans City: 19. Josh McNamara, 2. Jack James, 14. Josh Partington, 27. Kieran Gauthier, 3. Sam Brown, 28. George Hoddle, 15. Emmanuel Harvest, 7. Ryan Blackman (9. Shaun Jeffers 45), 12. Mitchell Weiss, 8. Gio Rasulo (4. Ben Smith 76), 21. Dylan Fage (17. George Morrall 72). Subs not used: 16. Harun Hamid24. Ibby Akanbi.

Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 5. George Fowler, 6. Raphe Brown, 15. Sam Bone, 16. Liam Sole (14. Harry Kyprianou 66), 18. Bivesh Gurung (9. Sol Wanju-Smith 76), 8. Sam Corne, 10. Lemar Reynolds, 11. Devonte Aransibia (4. Paul Appiah 60), 14. Matt Rush, 17. Levi Amantchi. Subs not used: 7. Razzaq Coleman De-Graft, 12. Damien Niemczycki.