Two cracking goals helped Maidstone beat Eastbourne and took their unbeaten run into double figures.

Bivesh Gurung sparked memories of his FA Cup stunner against Barrow in giving George Elokobi’s side the lead.

And while George Alexander levelled for high-flying Eastbourne early in the second half, a superb effort from Antony Papadopoulos restored the lead.

Aaron Blair then secured victory in added time after a mistake by Boro keeper Joseph Wright.

Maidstone are now 10 games unbeaten in National League South, a run stretching back to early September, and sit just four points off the play-off places.

The match was only seven minutes old when Gurung fired the hosts in front.

Forcing a mistake in the Eastbourne defence, he pinched possession before arrowing an absolute beauty into the top corner from 25 yards.

It was his first goal since his wonder strike in the FA Cup against Barrow last season and this one was hit equally well.

Maidstone were pressing well but Eastbourne had a good chance to level before the 20-minute mark after launching a counter-attack down the right.

George Alexander chested down a cross and looked set to score but a touch off Alexis Andre Jr sent the ball out for a corner, from which Jayden Davis might have levelled after the second ball fell his way when well-placed.

Matt Bentley had a close-range effort blocked at the other end after meeting Charlie Seaman’s cross, while Greg Cundle fired narrowly wide after a decent run into the box and Temi Eweka’s header from a Sam Corne corner was saved.

The Stones played the odd loose pass and conceded a couple of needless free-kicks out wide as the half wore on but Eastbourne’s deliveries were poor.

However, their defensive Achilles heel was exposed again in the 53rd minute as another free-kick led to Boro’s equaliser.

They didn’t deal with the initial delivery and when the ball came back across goal, Alexander nodded home.

Maidstone turned to Sol Wanjau-Smith before the hour mark, the returning forward given a warm reception after rejoining on loan from Bath until the end of the season.

He was quickly involved but it was another loanee, Crawley man Papadopoulos, who restored the hosts’ lead with another special strike in the 69th minute.

Cundle more than played his part, keeping the ball alive out wide and finding Bentley.

He then fed Papadopoulos, who bent the ball past keeper Wright from the edge of the area.

Substitute Riley Court threatened a late third after pouncing on a loose ball and beating his man but fired just wide.

Maidstone made sure of the points in the third minute of added time when Wright came rushing out of his area, only to lose out to Blair, who found the empty net.

Eastbourne finished with 10 men with Yahaya Bamba dismissed after a melee in the corner in the closing seconds.

Maidstone: Andre Jr, Seaman, Fowler, Eweka, Brookes, Corne, Gurung (Wanjau-Smith 59mins), Papadopoulos, Bentley (Greenidge 70mins), Cundle (Court 82mins), Blair. Subs not used: Coulthirst, Holden.

Eastbourne: Wright, Barry, Alexander, Sesay, Kensdale, Davis (Pavey 74mins), Odusanya, Johnson (Bamba 46mins), Clarke (Diarra 90+3mins), Willard-Innocent, Bird. Subs not used: Quick, Diarra, Ligendza.

Referee: Isaac Searle.

Attendance: 1,860.