Maidstone cruised into the FA Cup third qualifying round with victory over lower-league Cheshunt.

Matt McClure and Ibby Akanbi gave United an early two-goal lead and while Mo Camara replied, Iffy Allen and Noah Chesmain quickly ended any comeback hopes.

Maidstone made four changes to the side beaten at Dorking last weekend with Ryan Johnson, Luke Pennell, Allen and Akanbi returning in place of Gavin Hoyte, Lewis Knight, Nana Kyei and Jonny Edwards.

Cheshunt, who play a level below United in the Isthmian Premier, probably needed to score the first goal to really make a game of it.

But it went to Maidstone in just the fifth minute with Chesmain’s inswinging corner met by the head of McClure for his fourth goal of the season.

United had more time on the ball than they’re afforded in National League South and were looking comfortable when they doubled the lead on 12 minutes.

Akanbi was the scorer, pouncing on a mistake by Mark Hughes and hooking home after Allen met Dan Wishart’s cross.

United almost had a third minutes later when Allen played in Akanbi who smacked the bar from just inside the area.

Wishart and McClure put balls across the face of goal as Maidstone threatened further goals but the hosts got a little casual as the half wore on, conceding possession cheaply a few times.

They got away with it, and indeed Wishart could have made it three from Akanbi’s cross.

But there was enough there to keep Cheshunt interested and they went close in first-half injury time when Joe Re turned on the edge of the box and saw his shot touched over by Jake Cole.

“We’ve had a shot” sung the away fans and they had another six minutes after the break - one that got them back in the game.

Midfielder Mo Camara - their brightest player - was the scorer, taking possession and finding the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Re put another effort over after Maidstone didn’t deal with Ola Williams’ cross but John Still’s side restored their two-goal cushion in the 58th minute.

It owed everything to the persistence of Wishart who forced a mistake in the defence and laid on a tap-in for Allen.

Maidstone’s fourth followed in the 63rd minute with keeper Harry Girling making a mess of Chesmain’s 25-yard strike.

The Stones full-back hit it well enough but it was one Girling would expect to save.

Cheshunt kept going, Pennell with a good block from Freddy Moncur’s strike before substitute Jake Embery hit the side-netting at the other end.

Maidstone: Cole, Johnson, Pennell, Elokobi, Chesmain, Kamdjo, Khan (Corne 71mins), Allen (Embery 66mins), McClure, Wishart, Akanbi (Kyei 66mins). Subs not used: Knight, Edwards, Gilbert, Lewington.

Attendance: 1,129.

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