The league’s meanest defence unravelled as Maidstone were thrashed at Hampton & Richmond. United had conceded just 13 goals in 15 National South matches before turning up at the Beveree and were on a 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
But they conceded from four headers and a penalty as their early-season frailties from set-pieces returned out of nowhere. Mason Bloomfield scored a hat-trick, with Luis Fernandez and Ben Seymour also on target for the in-form Beavers.
Maidstone had fought back from two goals down to level - Sol Wanjau-Smith and Devonte Aransibia’s penalty getting George Elokobi’s men back in the game.
But they ended up well-beaten and finished with 10 men after Aransibia picked up a second yellow card. A defensive horror show began for the visitors with Hampton’s ninth-minute opener.