Maidstone ended a run of four National League defeats with a 2-1 victory over Eastleigh on Tuesday night.

Dan Sweeney, a late replacement in the starting XI for Jamar Loza, opened the scoring.

Eastleigh levelled with a penalty early in the second half but United were rewarded for a display full of heart and passion when Bobby-Joe Taylor restored the lead from the spot.

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Sweeney made the most of his chance by scoring after five minutes.

It was a nice finish from the midfielder, too, curling home on his left foot from just inside the box after Tom Mills took an Alex Flisher pass and squared.

Veteran former Premier League striker Jamie Cureton hit the side-netting after busting through from the restart but it was a rare scare for a Maidstone side who were buzzing after Sweeney’s strike - the first time in league 10 games they had opened the scoring.

It did wonders for Sweeney personally - he was getting about the pitch and winning everything - and also his team-mates, who looked good on the ball and were quickly on to Eastleigh when the big-spending Hampshire side had possession.

James Rogers and Jack Paxman were up there with Sweeney in the midfield three, with Maidstone looking much the better side.

Flisher lashed over after winning the ball, while Paxman went close after Sweeney intercepted a pass midway inside the Eastleigh half.

The visitors did threaten shortly after the half-hour, Jamie Coyle blocking a header from Ross Stern, the former Sutton winger, who played so well against Maidstone for his old club a few weeks ago.

Having played so well in the first half, United were pegged back on 49 minutes, a penalty given against Paxman and Michael Mandron scoring down the middle.

Maidstone’s response was immediate, Scott Brown with an excellent save from Sweeney’s cracking strike and Flisher clearing the bar from the rebound.

A minute later, Mills fed Odubade whose near-post effort was kept out by Brown.

Back came Eastleigh with Worgan making an outstanding save from Mandron’s header, then record signing Bondz N’Gala nodded wide.

What a game it was turning into, with Maidstone back in front on 59 minutes.

Odubade went down under challenge from Joe Partington - clever play from the ex-Eastleigh man - and Taylor buried his spot-kick low to the keeper’s right.

It was such an open match, Worgan getting down well from Luke Coulson’s 25-yard strike, then the excellent Odubade raced through one-on-one but lifted the ball over.

Chances continued to fall at both ends, James Constable somehow missing the target for Eastleigh from four yards in the last couple of minutes and Worgan denying Andy Drury in injury time.

Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Coyle, Rogers, Sweeney, Paxman, Taylor, Flisher, Odubade (Enver-Marum 90mins). Subs not used: Hudson-Odoi, Evans, Greenhalgh, Loza.

Attendance: 1,714.