A record league crowd of 2,691 at the Gallagher Stadium saw Maidstone end their losing run with a 2-1 victory over Eastbourne.

Vas Karagiannis gave United a half-time lead with his first goal for the club and Jamie Coyle headed the winner shortly after Boro had equalised.

The result lifted Stones back up to second place in National League South and halted a run of three 1-0 defeats.

Jay Saunders made three changes to the side beaten 1-0 at Margate on Boxing Day.

Charles Banya was handed a first league start in place of Bobby-Joe Taylor, Alex Akrofi replaced top scorer Jay May and Jack Paxman took over the No.10 shirt from Dan Sweeney, who had flu.

United enjoyed plenty of possession early on but there was a shortage of goalmouth action, with a Karagiannis free-kick and Banya’s decent strike both dealt with by Lewis Carey in a quiet start.

Callum Driver started to get forward more from right-back and having seen a penalty appeal turned down after a strong run, he grew in confidence and threatened with a header from a Karagiannis corner.

Driver was soon involved in Maidstone’s 32nd-minute opener, feeding Karagiannis who cut into the area and thrashed the ball between Carey’s legs for his first goal since joining from Leatherhead.

The goal lifted everybody and Maidstone were soon chasing a second.

Another good run and strike from Driver produced a flying save from Carey, then Tom Mills found Karagiannis whose fierce hit from 20 yards clipped the top of the bar.

For the visitors, Jack Evans blasted over after Nathaniel Pinney’s knockdown and late in the half left-back Sam Beale’s cross-cum-shot was well saved low to his left by Lee Worgan.

Maidstone were in charge just after the break, Driver’s strike tipped past the post by Carey who arguably did even better from the corner to keep out Joe Healy’s flying header.

Having looked on top, Stones were pegged back by an equaliser on the hour.

Mills lost possession bringing the ball out of defence, a long ball over the top wasn’t dealt with and Darren Lok went through to beat Worgan.

But Stones were back in front five minutes later, a wicked Karagiannis corner to the back post headed in by player-coach Coyle.

Akrofi had a shot blocked after Healy’s long ball was met by Karagiannis and Paxman fired over from 20 yards, then substitute Matt Bodkin left his man trailing but hit the side-netting as the angle narrowed.

Frustration got the better of Eastbourne manager, the ex-Southampton midfielder Tommy Widdrington, who was sent from the dugout with just over 10 minutes left.

He came on to the pitch to dispute a decision and was promptly sent to the stands.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Parry, Rogers, Banya (Taylor 76mins), Healy, Akrofi, Paxman (May 88mins), Karagiannis (Bodkin 72mins). Subs not used: Collin, Davies.

Attendance: 2,691.