Maidstone lost to a talented young Tranmere side on the last day of the National League season.

Sam Ilesanmi scored the only goal early in the second half as United finished with just a second defeat in 15 games, ending in 14th place.

Runners-up Tranmere, with the play-offs in mind, changed their entire team for the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.

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There were nine debutants in a side with an average age of 19 and Stones got at them early on.

That said, Rovers were a good team.

They were never going to be bad players being on the books of a club as big as Tranmere but not only could they play, they weren’t shy of putting their foot in.

Maidstone forced six corners in the opening 15 minutes, Joe Pigott going close from one of them after the ball dropped off Kevin Lokko.

Wideman Alex Flisher and Bobby-Joe Taylor saw plenty of the ball while Magnus Okuonghae showed he’s more than just a big stopper with a couple of terrific crossfield passes.

Stones’ best chances fell to Stuart Lewis, who was denied by a smart low save by Luke Pilling, and Yemi Odubade, Pilling once again in the way after Taylor squared.

Pigott, having started a neat move, saw his header from a Taylor cross held by Pilling, while Rovers blew a big chance to lead when the unmarked Erico Sousa blazed over from the lively Aaron Collins’ pass.

Odubade was inches away from a spectacular opener early in the second half but Stones fell behind in the 57th minute.

Lewis initially did well to snuff out the danger in the Stones box but the ball ended up with Rovers’ Adam Dawson, who played in Ilesanmi.

It went flat for Maidstone after that, skipper Lee Worgan doing his best to fire them up.

They went close to an equaliser when Flisher hooked the ball goalwards, Pilling alert to make the save.

Tom Mills’ late effort was blocked, with handball appeals waved away, while Flisher's strike was parried by Pilling.

Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Okuonghae (Coyle 65mins), Lokko, Taylor, Lewis, Prestedge (Paxman 57mins), Flisher, Pigott (Phipps 88mins), Odubade. Subs not used: Acheampong, McCarthy.

Attendance: 3,409 (496 Rovers fans).