The Stones were forced into one change from the starting line up following the Tonbridge game at the weekend. Taylor Foran who had to go off early on in that match was replaced by Lexus Beeden who kept his place in the side.

Ebbsfleet probably shaded the first half and they might have had a penalty with ten minutes gone. Kwesi Appiah found Dominic Samuel who went to ground with Beeden in attendance, but the referee, Adam Merchant, didn’t award a spot kick.

Not long after this, Appiah and Samuel combined again, with this time, Samuel slipping a nice ball into Appiah. Nathan Harness was smartly off his line though to snuff out the danger.

Maidstone’s first opportunity came with 22 minutes gone. A short corner involving Steve Gilbert ended with Antony Papadopoulos’ shot being saved at the near post by Giosue Bellagambi.

Ebbsfleet then went close on two occasions. Ben Chapman’s effort hit the stanchion before Lennon Peake’s low drive cannoned off the post.

There was then some brave goal keeping from Harness. He was once again smartly off his line and as Gene Kennedy went to go round him, Harness appeared to make the save with his face.

Early on in the second half, Chapman was booked for pulling back Deon Moore on the edge of the box. Gilbert took the resultant free-kick and it hit the roof of the net.

But just before the hour mark, Ebbsfleet took the lead. Peake sent over an in-swinging corner and it was headed into the net by Ronny Nelson.

Maidstone responded by making a quick double substitution. Hamzad Kargbo and Kweku Lucan replaced Jephte Tanga and Deon Moore. And within seconds of this, the home side came close to doubling their lead when former Maidstone player Charlie Seaman’s free-kick went inches over.

Harness was then called into action as he made a decent save to divert Chapman’s shot from distance away from goal. And the Stones made another double substitution with Sam Corne and Antony Papadopoulos coming off for Riley Court and Teo Kurtaran.

Court was quickly involved in the action. He sent over a good corner and George Fowler headed it just over the bar. Not long after this though, Fowler had to be replaced by David Agbontohoma and in the final moments, TJ Bramble also appeared to be struggling with an injury.

Two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game, Maidstone might have grabbed an equaliser. Leo Hamblin put a cross over and substitute Kweku Lucan with Hamzad Kargbo in attendance, put the ball over the bar.

Ebbsfleet United: Ronny Nelson 59

Maidstone United: –

Ebbsfleet United: 13. Giosue Bellagambi, 2. Charlie Seaman, 4. Jake Hessenthaler, 10. Kwesi Appiah, 12. Ronny Nelson, 14. Dominic Samuel (21. Josh Coley 73), 17. Lennon Peake (3. Ben Coker 81), 18. Gene Kennedy, 19. Finlay Barnes (20. Mazz Manktelow 73), 22. Ben Chapman, 24. Mustapha Olagunju. Subs not used: 1. Mark Cousins, 7. Josh Passley, 9. Aaron Cosgrave, 16. Franklin Domi.

Maidstone United: 1. Nathan Harness, 2. David Sesay, 5. George Fowler (15. David Agbontohoma 83), 4. Lexus Beeden, 3. Leo Hamblin, 6. TJ Bramble, 8. Sam Corne (22. Teo Kurtaran 79), 20. Antony Papadopoulos (17. Riley Court 79), 7. Jephte Tanga (14. Kweku Lucan 64), 10. John Gilbert, 9. Deon Moore (23. Hamzad Kargbo 64). Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden, 12. Dajon Golding.