A terrific free-kick from Vas Karagiannis clinched a 2-1 victory for Maidstone against Margate.

The recent signing from Leatherhead scored his second goal in a week after Jake Goodman had cancelled out Joe Healy’s opener in Saturday’s Kent derby at the Gallagher.

Victory strengthened second-placed Stones' National League South play-off bid while it was a first defeat in four games for Blues under new boss Nikki Bull.

Maidstone, handing a debut to Callum Davies, had more of the ball early on but mainly in their own half in a quiet start to the game.

Lee Worgan was credited with a touch to Luke Moore’s strike that went past the post as the first chance fell to the visitors, while Goodman blazed over from a corner after the ball dropped off Stones’ Callum Driver.

United started to get more joy playing in Margate territory midway through the half, Healy and Jack Paxman growing influences in the middle.

Jay Saunders’ side then took the lead in the 26th minute, Healy with a lovely right-foot strike across goalkeeper Chris Lewington from Charles Banya’s pass, that after Margate failed to deal with a Karagiannis free-kick.

The goal triggered a good spell for the hosts with Healy denied by a decent Lewington save from Karagiannis’ cross, while Banya looked particularly dangerous.

From looking strong, Maidstone were pegged back on 37 minutes.

The ball dropped to on-loan Matthew Johnson on the edge of the box and his strike was diverted past Worgan by the faintest of touches from Goodman.

Alex Akrofi was a willing worker up front for Stones and his persistence led to a chance just after the break, forcing a mistake from goalscorer Goodman and continuing his run before firing inches wide of the far post.

Maidstone regained the lead on 58 minutes. Karagiannis was fouled after collecting Paxman’s pass and he got up to crash a brilliant 25-yard free-kick past Lewington.

Brett Johnson’s block around the penalty spot denied Akrofi soon after while up the other end the dangerous Freddie Ladapo volleyed over after a neat one-two with Lewis Taylor.

Ladapo was involved again approaching the final 10 minutes, his diving header from Jamie Taylor’s cross pushed past the post by Worgan.

Karagiannis saw his fierce drive pushed over by Lewington as Stones went close to an injury-time third on the break.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Davies, Rogers, Banya (Bodkin 85mins), Healy, Akrofi (May 81mins), Paxman (Sweeney 82mins), Karagiannis. Subs not used: Parry, Taylor.

Margate: Lewington, Wilson, N Green, Hunt (L Taylor 67mins), Goodman, B Johnson, D Green, M Johnson, Ladapo, Moore (J Taylor 67mins), Shields (Wills 77mins). Subs not used: Jolley, Stuart.

Attendance: 2,609.