Substitute Ibby Akanbi scored seconds after coming on as Maidstone grabbed a late winner at Dulwich.

He’d been on the pitch less than a minute when he raced away for the only goal of the game at Champion Hill.

It was the perfect response from the Stones after Saturday’s defeat at Wealdstone, defending well and finally taking one of their second-half chances.

There was plenty of effort in a tight first half but the sides largely cancelled each other out.

Maidstone kept possession better than they did at Wealdstone - although that wasn’t difficult - putting together a few nice passages of play to go with the direct stuff.

Clovis Kamdjo, one of two changes for the Stones along with George Elokobi, sat in front of the back four and broke up play effectively in a rare start.

He regularly pinched the ball off Hamlet attackers and also got forward a couple of times, sending a 30-yard drive over the bar with the visitors’ first effort on goal.

Matt McClure fired over after making space for himself in the box and later robbed a defender before teeing up Jonny Edwards who went close from 20 yards.

Corners led to goalmouth scrambles at either end while Hamlet’s best chance of the first half saw Danny Mills just fail to get his toe on Christian Smith’s cross.

Maidstone had a big chance on the break early in the second half after Lewis Knight dispossessed Reise Allassani.

It gave them a chance to counter through Justin Amaluzor who made a strong run into the box before firing across goal with the ball brushing McClure’s head on its way past the post.

The game was opening up and Maidstone went close again with a cracking 30-yard free-kick from Noah Chesmain which, for a moment, looked as though it was in.

Chesmain was at it again seconds later, keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer parrying his long-range shot with Amaluzor unable to gobble up the loose ball.

Hamlet had a big penalty shout turned down after Chesmain went in on Mills - home fans screaming for a spot-kick - before Chesmain worked a short free-kick to the unmarked Amaluzor, who missed the target from the edge of the box.

Maidstone made their first change on 84 minutes with Akanbi replacing Edwards.

He’d been on the pitch less than a minute when he got away down the left, cut into the box and slotted past Maynard-Brewer from a tight angle.

Seven minutes of injury time gave Dulwich hope and they had a glorious late chance when Mills headed over.

Maidstone: Cole, Hoyte, Knight, Elokobi, Chesmain, Kamdjo, Khan, Amaluzor, McClure, Wishart, Edwards (Akanbi 84mins). Subs not used: Pennell, Kyei, Tarh, Lewington.

Attendance: 1,565.

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