Maidstone United 2 Eastbourne Borough 0 match report: Devonte Aransibia’s penalty and Levi Amantchi earn victory in National League South

Devonte Aransibia was at it again as Maidstone continued their long unbeaten run.

Aransibia scored and provided an assist - just as he did in the FA Cup at Chesham on Saturday - as United beat struggling Eastbourne 2-0 at the Gallagher.

He opened the scoring from the penalty spot and set up substitute Levi Amantchi for the clincher as the hosts moved up to fifth place in National League South and made it 12 games unbeaten in all competitions.

Maidstone handed a debut to new signing Matt Rush in attack, the former Aveley man having been cup-tied at the weekend.

Bivesh Gurung also came into the side, with Sam Corne suspended.

Eastbourne, starting the evening just outside the bottom four, had a big early chance to take the lead.

Decarry Sheriff dinked a cross towards Fletcher Holman at the back post but Stones keeper Lucas Covolan brilliantly saved his header.

Eastbourne rarely threatened after that until blowing a golden chance immediately after Maidstone’s opener.

They were proving difficult to break down, though, happy to let Maidstone have the ball in their own half, but keeping their shape to restrict chances.

The Stones probed away with Sam Bone firing over from 25 yards and George Fowler’s header from an Aransibia ball well saved by Ben Dudzinski diving to his right.

In between those opportunities Maidstone had a big penalty shout turned down with Archie Procter appearing to handle under pressure from Sol Wanjau-Smith.

But the Stones weren’t to be denied a second time as referee Eugene Robinson pointed to the spot towards the end of the half.

There was a foul on Wanjau-Smith as Rush got his shot away and Aransibia coolly sent Dudzinski the wrong way to give Maidstone a 42nd-minute lead.

Eastbourne should have