There was an unhappy return to his old club for Simon Johnson as Maidstone suffered their first away defeat in National League South on Saturday.

Johnson was handed his first Stones start against Eastbourne, as one of two changes from the side who beat Hayes & Yeading.

He replaced Joe Healy in central midfield while Matt Bodkin took Jack Paxman’s place on the right.

Both sides looked steady early on, with Eastbourne first to threaten when Darren Lok got the better of Manny Parry before seeing his lob drop wide.

Callum Driver cleared the danger after Alex Brown’s loose pass sent Gavin McCallum away before Stones missed a big chance to open the scoring, Alex Akrofi unable to finish Mitchell Pinnock’s knockdown a few yards out.

Stones, regularly looking to set Bodkin free with diagonals, were enjoying a decent spell shortly before falling behind, with Pinnock’s diving header from Akrofi’s near-post cross deflected wide.

Eastbourne took the lead on the half-hour when Collier broke from halfway, fed McCallum out wide and continued his run untracked into the box to finish the return ball from close range.

The goal triggered a lively period for the hosts with Nathaniel Pinney, something of a non-league Adebayo Akinfenwa in stature, and equally awkward to play against when the mood took him, finding McCallum who brought a decent save from Worgan at his near post.

Worgan made another smart stop moments later after McCallum skipped Steve Watt’s challenge before shooting.

Maidstone threatened a spectacular equaliser late in the first half, with unmarked Jay May’s thumping volley from Pinnock’s cross clearing the bar.

Stones could have done with May on the end of Pinnock’s cross, rather than Akrofi, early in the second half.

They just needed anyone in the six-yard box around the hour mark after May’s flick found Akrofi, whose cross was crying out for a finish.

Maidstone turned to Bobby-Joe Taylor and then Frannie Collin midway through the half.

Taylor’s deflected strike from 25 yards had Lewis Carey scrambling after the ball broke off Collin, a rare moment of action for the home keeper.

Boro sub Elliott Romain saw his strike touched wide after making room on edge of the box, then Pinney fired over from 20 yards.

Collin’s long-range free-kick - a good 35 yards out - was easily dealt with by Carey moving into the last 10 minutes.

United finished a man down with Watt going off injured.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Watt, Parry, Johnson (Paxman 80), Bodkin (Taylor 62mins), Brown, May, Akrofi, Pinnock (Collin 70mins). Subs not used: Coyle, Rogers.

Attendance: 1,011.