A moment of class from TJ Bramble gave Maidstone victory over Salisbury at the Gallagher Stadium.
Midfielder Bramble produced a superb overhead kick with 20 minutes remaining for the only goal of the game.
The match was far from a classic but it was lit up by Bramble’s strike as Maidstone bounced back from successive National League South defeats.
United reverted to a back four as George Elokobi made one change to the side beaten at Enfield on Tuesday night, Leo Hamblin replacing the suspended John Gilbert.
The Stones couldn’t even fill their bench, such is the extent of their injury problems, with Elokobi naming only five substitutes out of a possible seven.
There was little to get excited about in a low-key first half at the Gallagher.
Maidstone’s only real chance of the opening 45 minutes saw Lexus Beeden send a header wide from Riley Court’s outswinging corner.
The Stones forced a few more corners but they came to nothing.
Salisbury, thrashed 6-0 at home by Maidenhead on Tuesday night, had made the brighter start.
Ollie Bray forced a decent save from Nathan Harness after meeting a Josh Hedges free-kick but he went off injured before the 10-minute mark.
Salisbury had the best chance of the half in added time when Hedges went on a good run into the box and teed up Tommy Willard, who rolled wide of the near post.
Maidstone showed more urgency at the start of the second half, with clear intent to raise the tempo and move the ball quicker.
Court and Antony Papadopoulos went on a couple of promising runs while Dajon Golding sent a header over from a Hamblin cross.
Willard worked Harness at the other end before Golding set up Papadopoulos but the strike on his weaker left foot lacked the power to trouble William Buse.
Maids
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