Maidstone are back up to third in Vanarama National League South after seeing off Wealdstone at a windswept Gallagher Stadium on Tuesday night.

Jay May's eighth goal of the season was enough to extend United's unbeaten league run to nine matches, lifting them above Whitehawk and to within two points of second-placed Oxford City.

Manager Jay Saunders promised personnel changes in his programme notes and sure enough, there were three alterations to the Maidstone side which started Saturday's 1-1 draw at Dartford.

Jack Paxman, Adam Birchall and Bobby-Joe Taylor were all restored to the XI with James Rogers, Alex Akrofi and Alex Flisher dropping to the bench. Injury again ruled out Ebbsfleet loanee Alex Osborn.

Much-travelled striker Jefferson Louis was one of five players dropped by Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett, whose side lost to lowly St Albans at the weekend. Louis is now 36 but he wasn't even the oldest player on the visiting bench, which also featured 41-year-old Scott McGleish.

There was a real intensity about Maidstone's early play. Matt Bodkin collected Birchall's pass on the right-hand side of the box and juggled the ball before seeing his goalbound volley blocked at the near post.

Birchall's cross from the left was then cleared only as far as Joe Healy, who tested Wealdstone keeper Jonathan North with a firm drive from 25 yards.

May went even closer to breaking the deadlock on 15 minutes when he let fly from distance. His shot beat North all ends up and rattled the crossbar.

But the visitors, attacking the Town End, started to come into the game and when Matthew Lowe was afforded time to turn inside the penalty area, United were relieved to see his curling effort sail harmlessly behind.

Neat play on the left-hand touchline then got Shaun Lucien away from Maidstone's Callum Driver and the winger's low cross sparked a scramble in the box before the home side managed to clear their lines.

Back came United, Bodkin escaping the attentions of left-back Dale Binns and whipping in a fine cross which May headed over from a central position.

But May wasn't to be denied much longer. Paxman's slide-rule pass from central midfield bisected the Wealdstone centre-halves and May timed his run perfectly to stay onside before sliding a cool finish under North.

The game then entered something of a lull until Taylor brought the Gallagher to life with a delightful piece of play three minutes before the interval. Fed by Driver on the corner of the box, Taylor dragged the ball back with his right foot before sending a stinging drive just past the post with his left.

Some hesitant defending allowed Wealdstone striker Matthew Ball to get a shot away at the start of the second half but Worgan was well positioned to make the save.

Lucien was a useful outlet for the visitors down their left flank and he showed great persistence to win the ball on the byline and lay it across goal. However, Ball was caught flat-footed in the six-yard box and the ball bounced off him and behind for a goal kick.

The second half was 15 minutes old before Maidstone created anything of note. May turned smartly in the D and curled a shot into North's gloves.

Then a deep Driver cross from the right reached Birchall at the far post but he delayed his shot and that allowed Wealdstone the split-second they needed to reposition and block his strike.

Saunders sent on Flisher for the last 20 minutes and almost immediately, he set up Taylor for a low shot which struck a Wealdstone defender 12 yards out.

Flisher had a good chance to make it 2-0 when he was sent clear in the left-hand channel but North turned his shot behind for a corner.

Centre-half Manny Parry then saw his header from Taylor's cross hacked off the line and Wealdstone broke straight away, Worgan having to be alert to keep out Ball's effort.

All the time it was still 1-0, danger lurked at the back for Maidstone and Lucien unloaded with a left-footed volley which fizzed over from a narrow angle.

On came Rogers for Birchall in a move to add more steel to the United midfield and Taylor dragged a shot well wide before May almost added a late second. Tom Mills dug out a terrific cross from the left and May leapt well to meet it but his header struck Binns and bounced behind.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Parry, Paxman, Bodkin (Flisher 71mins), Healy, May, Birchall (Rogers 81mins), Taylor. Subs not used: Akrofi, Collin, Butler.

Wealdstone: North, Duffy, Binns, McLeod-Urquhart, Hamblin, Godfrey, Wright (Hudson-Odoi 71mins), Lowe (Davies 41mins), Hutchinson (Louis 76mins), Ball, Lucien. Subs not used: Christian-Law, McGleish.

Attendance: 1,812.