Maidstone United 0 Hemel Hempstead 1: First defeat in seven National League South games for George Elokobi’s side

Maidstone’s six-match unbeaten run in National League South was ended by Hemel Hempstead.

Millar Matthews-Lewis scored the only goal in first-half added time as United lost for the first time since going down 2-1 at Enfield almost two months ago.

Hosts Maidstone were unchanged from the side who drew 1-1 at Torquay in their previous league game after winning an appeal against David Sesay’s red card.

Deon Moore had made a case to start following his midweek hat-trick against Ebbsfleet in the Kent Senior Cup but Stones boss George Elokobi had no reason to change the side who performed so well at Plainmoor.

United, the form team in the division after four wins and two draws in their past six games, made a fast start against a Tudors side who arrived in sixth place.

Maidstone, in 10th, forced keeper Michael Johnson into an early save as Riley Court’s clever pass released Mo Faal.

An offside flag denied Faal from Jephte Tanga’s through ball, while a Leo Hamblin cross just evaded Tanga six yards out.

A big chance appeared to have fallen the Stones’ way when TJ Bramble’s cross picked out the run of Court and while his header was saved, the linesman’s flag went up.

After a quiet spell, Court’s strike, from Antony Papadopoulos’ neat reverse pass, forced a decent save.

But Maidstone fell behind in the first minute of added time when a deep free-kick from Jack Lorentzen-Jones was nodded back across goal to Matthews-Lewis, whose superb overhead kick beat Nathan Harness.

Two openings fell Faal’s way at the start of the second half.

He sent a backheel inches wide after Tanga squared to the near post, then Johnson stuck out a hand to thwart the Stones striker after running on to Harness’ long clearance.

Papadopoulos worked Johnson with