Eastleigh 5 Maidstone United 2 match report: Captain Gavin Hoyte sent off as 10-man Stones beaten by Spitfires

Ten-man Maidstone lost an eventful game at Eastleigh having hit back to lead before skipper Gavin Hoyte was sent off.

Danny Whitehall put the Spitfires in front but Ryan Galvin and Reiss Greenidge struck as United led at the break for the first time this season.

Hoyte’s dismissal gave the Spitfires a penalty, as Tristian Abrahams levelled from the spot.

And the hosts pulled clear with Vincent Harper, Ousseynou Cisse and an own goal giving them the points as Maidstone’s winless run in the National League reached 12 games.

Hakan Hayrettin named an unchanged team after the encouraging goalless draw against Solihull Moors last week.

United announced the signing of winger Zaid Al-Hussaini on loan from Crawley before the game and while he travelled to Hampshire, he didn’t make the squad.

Eastleigh, sitting just outside the play-off places, were on top for most of the first half.

Cisse and Nigel Atangana formed an imposing midfield duo and the hosts attacked quickly with what almost looked like a front four at times.

Oscar Rutherford, operating from the right, saw lots of the ball and looked particularly dangerous running at the Maidstone defence and creating opportunities.

Eastleigh were good value for their 16th-minute opener, although it was a poor goal from the Stones’ point of view.

Abrahams was picked out on all on his own on the edge of the box and he found Charlie Carter, whose cross was finished by Whitehall a yard out.

Ryan Sandford made a good save from Whitehall as Eastleigh looked to build on their lead and, at this stage, Maidstone, while hanging in there, were struggling to lay a glove on the hosts.

But the game changed in a two-minute spell towards the end of the first half as Maidstone led at the break.

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