Adam Birchall scored his first Maidstone goal in a 1-0 victory over Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.

Birchall struck after only six minutes as United claimed their second home win in National League South.

Maidstone made one change to the side who drew at Gosport last weekend, with Matt Bodkin replacing Alex Akrofi.

Loose passes from Callum Driver and Jack Paxman threatened to let in the visitors early on but from the second of those, United should have taken the lead.

Jamie Coyle snuffed out the danger and found Bobby-Joe Taylor whose dream cross was headed wide by Jay May at the near post.

Maidstone went in front from their next attack as Driver squared for Birchall who couldn’t miss from a couple of yards out.

Havant’s best chance to level came when Matt Paterson beat Manny Parry to a long ball and lobbed Lee Worgan only to see his effort drop wide.

Maidstone took charge after that, playing arguably their best football at home all season.

Bodkin’s half-volley was brilliantly saved by Ryan Young after Taylor’s free-kick was cleared to the edge of the box, then Joe Healy’s overhead kick from a corner was blocked by his own team-mate, Parry.

United’s midfield and frontmen all looked lively and the hosts threatened again when Paxman worked an opening for Taylor whose 20-yard strike was well saved.

Havant had Marvin Morgan booked for diving in the area midway through the half. He made such a hash of going down that he ran away smiling after collecting the card.

Nice footwork from Birchall teed up Paxman for a stinging strike that tested Young around the half-hour.

Stones’ willingness to play their way out of danger might have cost them towards the end of the half - sometimes there’s nothing wrong with lumping the ball clear.

There was an injury-time scare with Worgan out sharply at the feet of Morgan.

Birchall and Healy went close with headers from corners just after the break.

May then got a header wrong from Bodkin’s cross when well placed and couldn’t quite sort his feet out when found by Tom Mills’ pull-back.

Parry headed off the line at the other end and as the match moved into the last 15 minutes Stones shored up midfield by introducing Alex Brown for Birchall.

Havant sub Shamir Mullings had the ball taken off his toe by Mills and hooked an effort wide under pressure from Worgan as the visitors finished well.

They wasted their last chance to level when Mullings blazed over.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Parry, Paxman, Bodkin, Healy, May, Birchall (Brown 75mins), Taylor (Pinnock 77mins). Subs not used: Watt, Collin.

Attendance: 2,054.