It was an evening to forget for the Stones as they were beaten by Aveley. Maidstone now find themselves seven points behind leaders Dorking Wanderers as their recent run of form has found them slipping behind in the race for the title.

Maidstone looked disjointed for long periods of the first half as they struggled to get going. A sign of impending of defensive troubles for the Stones came on two minutes when Maidstone couldn’t clear their lines and the ball came to David Kawa who shot wide.

Moments later, Alexis Andre Jr hit a long ball down field. Aaron Blair knocked the ball to Baylin Johnson who forced James Holden to push the ball behind for a corner.

Then on 15 minutes, the Stones fell behind. Hamza Semakula put a delightful ball behind the Maidstone defence and Tyrese Owen nipped in to finish past Andre Jr.

Two minutes later, matters got even worse for the Stones. This time a corner from David Hicks went straight onto the head of Brooklyn Kabongolo who scored from close range.

Nathan Carlyle then conceded a corner. Jordan Higgs’ delivery to the back post was headed up by Reece Greenidge and Blair sliced the ball over.

Former Stones player Razza Coleman De-Graft soon went close to adding a third for the visitors. He gained possession about 25 yards out and spun before hitting a rising drive which whistled over the bar.

George Elokobi made a triple substitution at the break sending on Sol Wanju-Smith, Arj Krasniqi, and Ben Brookes for Riley Court, Baylin Johnson and Tayt Trusty and the Stones responded with an immediate improvement in performance. A deep cross from Seaman was headed just over by Temi Eweka before Maidstone went close on 57 minutes. A lovely free-kick from Brookes was headed goalwards by Ricardo German only for Holden to make a superb stop at the base of his post.

There was then a serious blow for Maidstone. Eweka was injured as he went for a ball in the box and after a lengthy delay, he left the game on a stretcher, to be replaced by Shaquile Coulthirst.

Aveley hadn’t threatened much in the second half until Hicks suddenly found himself in space 25 yards out. His low drive had Andre Jr scrambling as it fizzed wide.

Not long after this, Seaman came in off the right and into space. Seaman had his goal in his sights and his fierce effort went just wide of the left post.

As the game entered its later stages, Coleman De-Graft hit a shot straight at Andre Jr. Then at the other end, Holden flapped at a Brookes cross but Wanju-Smith sliced the ball wide.

There was 11 minutes of stoppage time following after Eweka and Holden had received treatment. During this, Brookes found Krasniqi but his rising shot was well off target.

Maidstone United: –

Aveley: Tyrese Owen 15, Brooklyn Kabongolo 17

Maidstone United:1. Alexis Andre Jr, 5.George Fowler, 2. Temi Eweka (10. Shaquile Coulthirst 65), 4. Reiss Greenidge, 14. Tayt Trusty (12. Arj Krasniqi 45), 7. Jordan Higgs, 11. Charlie Seaman, 17. Riley Court (15. Sol Wanju-Smith 45), 16. Baylin Johnson (3. Ben Brookes 45), 20. Ricardo German, 9. Aaron Blair. Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden.

Aveley: 1. James Holden, 2. Jason Ring, 3. Hamza Semakula, 5. Brooklyn Kabongolo, 6. Tyrese Owen, 7. Adam Leathers (4. Imran Uche 86), 8. David Hicks, 9. David Kawa (16. Charlee Hughes 90), 10. Razzaq Coleman De-Graft (15. Jaxon Brown 90), 11. Luke Holness (12. Manny Ogunrinde 79), 18. Nathan Carlyle. Subs not used:-