Alfie Pavey scored another winner after coming off the bench as Maidstone continued their perfect start.

The Stones made it three wins out of three in National South thanks to Pavey’s second-half penalty against Billericay.

He scored with his first touch at Chelmsford and had only been on the pitch three minutes this week when he beat Bailey Vose from the spot.

Vose would see red in added time after bringing down Maidstone substitute Jermaine McGlashan, who’d just come on for his debut.

United started brightly against a Billericay side who’d lost their first two games, including a 5-2 thrashing by Eastbourne in their previous outing.

The hosts got in decent crossing positions several times throughout the half but the final ball was lacking and chances were at a premium.

Ricay’s ex-Margate keeper Vose was tested just once in the opening 45 minutes, a smart save diving to his left from Roarie Deacon’s strike.

The visitors, managed by ex-Ebbsfleet boss Kevin Watson, went for the pace and mobility of ex-Stones loanee Norman Wabo up front but they couldn’t get him in a position to cause problems in the first half, although he had a few chances after the break.

Maidstone continued to make the running in the second half but, again, that final ball continued to elude them.

On came Pavey for Deacon and, just as at Chelmsford, he had an immediate impact with a goal.

This one came from the penalty spot in the 64th middle, blasting home low down the middle after a foul on Christie Pattisson.

It was a decision hotly disputed by the visitors who moments earlier saw Wabo denied by Tom Hadler’s legs after a mix-up in the Stones defence.

Joan Luque had a free-kick parried by Vose, following a foul on Pavey, as Maidstone looked to push on.

Luque then played in Booty, with Vose getting down well to make the save from the Stones midfielder.

There was a big chance for Billericay in the last 10 minutes when Wabo found himself in on goal but Hadler got a crucial touch as the ball rolled out for a corner.

The ball dropped to Wabo again moments later but he fired straight at Hadler, much to his frustration.

Ricay were reduced to 10 men in added time when Vose brought down Stones sub McGlashan on the edge of the box, with Booty’s free-kick blocked.

Wabo headed narrowly wide in the final minute of added time.

Maidstone: Hadler, Hoyte, Ellul, Elokobi, Brown, Gallagher, Booty, Odusanya, Deacon (Pavey 61mins), Luque (Phillips 79misn), Pattisson (McGlashan 87mins). Subs not used: Johnson, Binnom-Williams.

Attendance: 1,925.

Referee: Isaac Searle.