Hampton & Richmond Borough 5 Maidstone United 2 match report: Day to forget for the Stones as 12-match unbeaten run ends

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.

Sam Deadfield swung over a corner from the right and Fernandez was free at the back post to head home.

Hampton doubled their lead in the 17th minute - this time from a free-kick after a foul by Raphe Brown on Ruaridh Donaldson.

Captain Jake Gray played the ball in and Bloomfield lost his man down to plant home a firm header.

Maidstone, having been all over the place, fought back with two goals in four minutes.

It was 2-1 in the 23rd minute with skipper Sam Corne finding Matt Rush before Wanjau-Smith burst into the box and planted a cool finish past Adam Desbois.

And Maidstone were level on 27 minutes after Isaac Pitblado’s push on Wanjau-Smith in the box gave Aransibia the chance to score his second penalty in five days, leaving Desbois rooted to his spot.

It was entertaining, if nothing else, and a third goal for Hampton followed in the 31st minute after the hosts won another corner.

Over it came from Deadfield again