Jay Saunders returned to the Gallagher Stadium with Bromley as Maidstone lost for the first time in four matches.

Saunders is helping out Ravens boss Neil Smith while he waits for his next opportunity in management.

It was a low-key return with no official announcement from the Ravens on his involvement while the ex-Stones boss also stayed away from the dugout.

The match was settled by Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe’s first-half header as Maidstone’s mini-revival was halted.

United piled on pressure in the second half but for no reward having earlier struggled to make an impact.

Maidstone handed a debut to new signing Gold Omotayo in the only change from last weekend’s draw with Chesterfield.

It was a difficult game for the on-loan Bury striker to come into, with the Stones virtually non-existent as an attacking force in the first half.

Both Omotayo and fellow frontman Jake Cassidy were feeding off scraps in what looked a disjointed display from the Stones.

Bromley were comfortably the better side in the opening 45, playing some good football, and in forward Ogedi-Uzokwe they had a tricky customer who Maidstone struggled to handle at times.

The Stones’ improvement in recent weeks has been based on being hard to break down.

The test was always going to come when they conceded the first goal and on this occasion that’s what happened.

It came in the 11th minute with Ogedi-Uzokwe getting between the Stones defenders to head home Sam Wood’s left-wing cross.

United’s best moment of the half saw Blair Turgott’s strike touched wide by David Gregory while Lawrie Wilson’s first-time effort was tipped over.

Other than that, Bromley were on top and had a couple of good chances to extend their lead.

Lee Worgan came to the rescue with a fine save from George Porter after Wilson was dispossessed, Ogedi-Uzokwe leading the counter.

The goalscorer was involved again with a neat run and pass to pick out Bobby-Joe Taylor, who hit the outside of the post.

Omotayo was replaced by Michael Phillips at half-time and, just after the break, Cassidy stung Gregory’s fingertips.`

But another opening fell Bromley’s way from a short corner, with Taylor’s cross met by Marc-Anthony Okoye who was denied in the six-yard box by Will De Havilland.

Simon Walton escaped punishment for a challenge on Frankie Sutherland around the hour mark and was withdrawn soon after as Ollie Muldoon returned from injury in a switch to a back four.

Muldoon threatened an equaliser with a lovely first-time strike from 20 yards, Gregory with a flying save.

And he went even closer in the last 10 minutes with a terrific free-kick that crashed back off the bar.

Maidstone had late penalty appeals waved away as the Ravens held on.

Maidstone: Worgan, Wilson, De Havilland, Walton (Muldoon 63mins), Finney, Doyle, Lewis (Quigley 82mins), Paxman, Turgott, Cassdy, Omotayo (Phillips 46mins). Subs not used: Twumasi, Durojaiye. Attendance: 2,294.