Chesham United 4 Maidstone United 2 match report: Kai Yearn scores all four goals for the hosts as Stones suffer heavy National League South defeat

Maidstone’s National League South play-off hopes suffered a blow after a heavy defeat at Chesham.

Kai Yearn scored all four goals for the hosts on a day to forget for George Elokobi’s men.

Jamie Yila’s deflected effort gave the Stones hope, having trailed 2-0 at half-time, but the Generals pulled clear before an injury-time consolation from Christie Pattisson.

David Sesay and Jamie Yila replaced injured duo David Agbontohoma and Sam Corne as Maidstone made two changes to the side who beat Farnborough.

A young bench included four teenagers - Chris Swift and Ashton Mitford from the academy, and Mark Boruk and Farron Chime of the under-23s set-up.

The Stones were top of the form guide, having won five of their past six games, but struggled to get going here as the hosts opened up a 2-0 lead.

They looked unusually shaky at the back and, despite the odd bright moment in attack, there was little in the way of chances in a difficult first half.

Maidstone trailed in just the seventh minute after failing to deal with a ball in the box.

A flick from Alex Lafleur sent it into the path of Yearn and he had time to fire home unopposed.

Maidstone switched to a back four but the second goal followed in the 38th minute, and it was another poor one to concede as Yearn was found in space in the box and had time to pick out the far corner.

They might have doubled their lead well before that, with Lenny Holden pulling off a superb save after Karl Oliyide found himself unmarked in a glorious position.

Maidstone’s build-up was neat and tidy at times but they didn’t trouble keeper Ben Goode.

Riley Court had a go, after Yila and Hamzad Kargbo combined, but his first-time effort from outside the area cleared the bar.

John Gilbert sent a