Maidstone blew away Chester in a lightning start before surviving a second-half fightback to win a Gallagher Stadium cracker.

The hosts scored three goals inside 13 minutes - including two in the first five - followed by a fourth before half-time.

Chester replied from the spot and briefly fancied their chances of salvaging something after adding a second but United got the job done.

Defender Kevin Lokko scored two of the Maidstone goals, with Delano Sam-Yorke and Joe Pigott, with his first for the club, also on target.

Stones remain in the National League bottom four but showed everyone what they're capable of.

They led after two minutes with Pigott keeping the ball alive from Reece Prestedge’s far-post corner and setting up Lokko, who turned home.

It was soon two, Chester not dealing with another Prestedge corner and this time Jack Paxman showed good feet to work an opening for Sam-Yorke to take a touch and finish.

The dream start continued as Maidstone went 3-0 up.

Stuart Lewis worked the ball back to Alex Flisher following a long throw and his cross was touched on by Sam-Yorke for Pigott to score at the near post.

Maidstone were full of confidence and it showed.

They were passing the ball for fun and had so much energy about their play, typified by Lewis in midfield.

Flisher crashed an 25-yard drive off the inside of the post just after the half-hour, then crossed for Pigott whose clever backheeled volley was well saved by Alex Lynch at his near post.

Maidstone looked a threat every time they went forward and went four up a minute before the break, Lynch making a mess of Lokko’s header from a Paxman corner, helping the ball into the net off the post.

Sam-Yorke put a header wide from Paxman’s corner early in the second half - he’ll probably think he should have scored - as Maidstone picked up where they left off.

But there was a glimmer of hope for Chester in the 52nd minute when James Alabi sent Lee Worgan the wrong way from the penalty spot after a foul by Seth Twumasi on Euan Horwood.

Lynch made a flying save from Paxman’s 25-yard strike then Pigott ran through with the keeper off his line but saw his lob drop over the bar as Maidstone looked for a fifth.

But Chester had a sniff on 67 minutes when a free-kick was headed in by Sam Hughes for the visitors’ second.

And they should have had a third approaching the last 10 minutes, Elliott Durrel wasting a good chance from Horwood’s cross.

There were a few nerves by now although substitute Bobby-Joe Taylor almost settled them, hitting the side-netting after cutting in from the right.

Lewis went close in the closing stages from Jamar Loza’s pass, while Worgan turned Alabi’s effort against the post in injury time.

Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Coyle, Lokko, Prestedge, Paxman (Loza 84mins), Lewis, Pigott (Taylor 75mins), Sam-Yorke (McCarthy 87mins), Flisher. Subs not used: Acheampong, Odubade.

Attendance: 2,120.