An excellent performance from Maidstone United ensured Truro City fell off top spot to fourth, as the Stones continued their fine run which sees only them and Liverpool as unbeaten away from home in England this season.

Victory saw Maidstone move up to ninth and the Stones are now just three points off the play-offs with a game in hand.

“It was an absolutely brilliant performance from each and every individual, collectively and as a team,” said George Elokobi afterwards. “I thought our boys were magnificent in terms of their game management and in terms of executing the game plan.”

There wasn’t a huge amount to note in the early stages. Jaze Kabia ran down the left but Maidstone defended well before Aaron Blair did well to make space for a shot which went wide.

The Stones started to push Truro back and they had a sniff of a goal chance when Matt Rush played in Blair. However, Sam Sanders was alert to the danger and conceded a corner.

Then on 23 minutes, Maidstone took the lead. Not for the first time this season, Antony Papadopoulos sent a rocket of a shot towards goal from about 35 yards out. Arguably Dan Lavercombe might have done better after getting a hand to the ball but he couldn’t keep Papadopoulos’s fine effort out.

Five minutes later, the Stones went close to doubling their lead. Sol Wanju-Smith found Blair whose shot cannoned off the crossbar.

Early on in the second half, Blair got in on goal. However, he was denied by an excellent challenge from Tom Harrison.

Dan Lavercombe then had to race off his line to stop Wanju-Smith from gaining possession. At the other end, Connor Riley-Lowe sent a free-kick into the box which was headed wide by Jaze Kabia.

Then on 72 minutes, the Stones made certain of the points. Matt Rush got into a decent position before drilling a shot across Lavercombe and into the far corner.

Not long after this, Temi Eweka’s header from Kabia’s cross dropped onto the roof of the net. Truro couldn’t capitalise from the corner though as Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain’s header went inches wide.

Substitute Tylor Love-Homes then had to react smartly to stop Blair who had once again made progress towards goal. And for Truro, their last notable chance came three minutes into stoppage time when Tyler Harvey fired over.

Truro City: –

Maidstone United: Antony Papadopoulos 23, Matt Rush 72

Truro City: 1. Dan Lavercombe, 3. Connor Riley-Lowe, 5. Tom Harrison (22. Ben Adlesbury), 6. Samuel Sanders, 8. Will Dean, 9. Tyler Harvey, 10. Billy Palfrey (2. Tylor Love-Homes 65), 12. Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, 14. Levi Andoh (15, Andrew Neal), 18. Louis Rooney 19. Jaze Kabia. Subs not used: 11. Dominic Johnson-Fisher, 13. Stewart Yetton.

Maidstone United: 1. Alexis Andre Jr, 11. Charlie Seaman, 2. Temi Eweka, 5. George Fowler, 3. Ben Brookes, 7, Jordan Higgs (16. Matt Bentley 86), 20. Antony Papadopoulos, 18. Bivesh Gurung, 15. Sol Wanju-Smith (6. Raphe Brown 86), 19. Matt Rush (10. Shaq Coulthirst 90), 9. Aaron Blair. Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden, 17. Riley Court