Chelmsford City 1 Maidstone United 1 match report: Substitute Ruben Carvalho’s injury-time leveller ends Stones’ three-match losing run in National League South

Ruben Carvalho scored an injury-time equaliser as Maidstone ended their three-match losing run at Chelmsford on Monday night.

The Stones were heading for another National League South defeat after Lyle Taylor’s second-half opener for the Clarets.

The visitors produced a committed performance but hadn’t looked like scoring until substitute Carvalho pounced at the death for an unlikely leveller.

Hamzad Kargbo and Jephte Tanga started in place of Sam Corne and Jamie Yila as George Elokobi made two changes to the side beaten by an injury-time goal at Chippenham.

The game was in doubt until an hour before kick-off, with City groundstaff rolling and forking problem areas before referee Dan England carried out a further inspection.

The pitch was heavy but played well in the circumstances as further rain held off.

That said, the game was always likely to be more of a battle than anything else, and so it proved as the two sides dug in.

There was a win of sorts for Maidstone when assistant manager Craig Fagan put a stop to Clarets skipper Adam Crowther using a towel to dry the ball before long throws.

He alerted fourth official Matthew Rowling, who promptly had the towels collected.

There was nothing in the way of first-half chances for Maidstone, bar George Fowler hooking wide after City keeper Billy Eastwood’s punch reached the edge of the box.

Chelmsford grew as an attacking threat as the half wore on, with Joe Grimwood and Jett Murphy missing the target from free headers, while Harry Barbrook was denied by Nathan Harness at his near post.

City star man Taylor ended the half in the book after an off-the-ball incident involving Maidstone left-back Leo Hamblin in the penalty area.

Jason Adigun fired wide following a goalmouth