It was an afternoon to forget for Maidstone United as they were thumped away at National League side Barnet in the FA Trophy.

The game was over as a tie by the interval as the Stones found themselves trailing by three goals. As the first half had moved on, Barnet had begun to enjoy the greater share of possession and they found themselves with a decent advantage after Maidstone struggled defensively at times.

With 30 minutes gone, Lucas Covolan beat away Reece Hall-Johnson’s effort but sixty seconds later, Covolan got caught out. Idris Kanu delivered what looked like a dangerous cross into the box and it appeared to come off George Fowler as Covolan came out, and the ball went straight into the net.

Three minutes before half time, Covolan could only parry a shot from the left. The ball might have caught Harry Kyprianou’s arm as it fell nicely to Nickie Kabamba who leathered in the rebound.

Moments later, Covolan could only parry a drive from Kanu. The ball came to Kabamba who headed over when well placed.

However, Kabamba was to score again on 45 minutes. Covolan came rushing from his goal to try and close down the Barnet striker who calmly rounded the Maidstone keeper before passing the ball into an empty net.

Maidstone had a reasonable chance to pull a goal back early in the second half. Good work from Michael Petrasso, who had replaced Razzaq Coleman De-Graft, started the move. The ball eventually came to Liam Sole who had Laurie Walker to beat but the keeper stood tall and made the block.

The Stones’ afternoon then got even worse on 57 minutes. Abraham accidentally caught Hall-Johnson in the head as the Barnet player stooped to meet the ball and was given a straight red card.

Then on 73 minutes, Barnet added a fourth. Dale Gorman took a corner out on the right and it went straight into the net.

Late on, Finley Potter struck a rising drive. It looked like it was going in but Covolan did well to tip it away from goal.

Barnet: Idris Kanu 31, Nickie Kabamba 42, 45, Dale Gorman 73

Maidstone United: –

Barnet: 1. Laurie Walker, 2. Reece Halll-Johnson (32. Jordan Cropper 56), 4. Danny Collinge (20. Connor Stevens 45), 8. Dale Gorman, 9. Nickie Kabamba (26. Gary Hooper 70), 11. Idris Kanu, 14. Harry Pritchard, 18. Anthony Hartigan, 22. Adebola Oluwo, 30. Finley Potter, 33. Zak Brunt. Subs not used: 13. Jordan Gillimore, 3.Ben Coker, 5. Marvin Armstrong, 6. Jerome Okimo.

Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 2. Gavin Hoyte, 4. Reiss Greenidge, 5. George Fowler, 16. Liam Sole (6. Raphe Brown 71), 18. Bivesh Gurung, 8. Sam Corne, 14. Harry Kyprianou, 7. Razzaq Coleman De-Graft, (11. Michael Petrasso 45), 17. Timmy Abraham, 20. Matt Rush (9. Sol Wanju-Smith 71). Subs not used: 10. Lamar Reynolds, 3. Chi Ezennolim, 12. Harley Earle, 19. Riley Court.