Jamar Loza scored twice as Maidstone came from a goal down to beat Southport and move five points clear of trouble.

The Jamaica international was unplayable at times as United made it five games unbeaten in their National League survival bid, with victory moving them up a place to 19th.

Loza cancelled out Southport’s opener then scored from the spot for a 2-1 half-time lead.

The visitors levelled just after the break but Joe Pigott and a wonderful goal from defender Kevin Lokko gave Stones another win.

Maidstone were rocked by Southport’s early opener and it took them a while to clear their heads.

The goal came in just the third minute with Neil Ashton’s cross from the left headed in by Ben McKenna.

Southport slipped straight into time-wasting mode - a risky business so early in the game - and it would come back to haunt them.

United were a bit flat for a while except for Loza who was scaring the life out of the Port defence.

He turned them inside out with his pace and flicks and tricks and while the end product was initially missing, it was brilliant to watch.

Loza went close on 20 minutes following a lung-busting run from halfway that started with him flicking the ball over his marker’s head and steaming clear, beating another man before hitting keeper Craig King’s legs.

Pigott headed over and Jack Paxman fired wide at the near post before Loza had a penalty shout turned down after another superb run.

Lindon Meikle went close for Southport before Maidstone levelled in the 38th minute.

Tom Mills did well to keep the ball alive and play it forward to Pigott whose touch set up Loza for a lovely finish at the near post.

The first half was in the second minute of added time when Loza made it 2-1.

This time he ran on to Reece Prestedge’s pass, toyed with the Port defence, drew the foul from Ryan Higgins and beat King from the spot.

Southport levelled five minutes into the second half. Stones appeared to have dealt with the danger when Jamie Coyle blocked from Euan Murray but the ball was fed back into the box and Jamie Allen swept home.

Stones were back in front on the hour, Loza with more great work to shake off his man and square for Pigott, who was ice-cool from six yards.

The pair combined again moments later, a good block denying Pigott this time, with Delano Sam-Yorke’s header from the corner ruled out for a foul.

Pigott then led a counter-attack which ended with Sam-Yorke’s effort being blocked on the line from a Paxman pass.

Maidstone didn’t have long to wait for their fourth, though, and what a goal it was.

Lokko, with all the class of a forward, chested down a deep free-kick from Mills, swivelled and lashed the ball across King to give the hosts breathing space on 70 minutes.

Sam-Yorke, on his farewell appearance before returning to Woking, was given a huge ovation when replaced by Yemi Odubade in the last minute.

Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Coyle, Lokko, McCarthy (Phipps 79mins), Prestedge, Paxman, Sam-Yorke (Odubade 90mins), Pigott, Loza (Taylor 86mins). Subs not used: Acheampong, Okuonghae.

Attendance: 2,404.