Levi Amantchi moved on to 20 goals for the season as Maidstone regained second place in National League South.

Amantchi struck twice, including a terrific solo effort, while Matt Rush opened the scoring in a comfortable victory over bottom side Havant.

The Hawks were briefly back in the game when Ryan Seager made it 2-1 early in the second half but their long winless run under Steve King continues.

There was a full debut for on-loan Leicester defender Paul Appiah in the back three while Harry Kyprianou and Sol Wanjau-Smith returned to the starting XI.

Havant made the better start at the Gallagher Stadium, enjoying more of the ball.

But they failed to make it count and with the visitors’ confidence fragile after 15 games without a win, a Maidstone goal would change everything.

It arrived in the 16th minute with Rush looping a header over ex-Stones loanee Ross Worner after Kyprianou’s effort from an Amantchi cross was cleared off the line.

Lucas Covolan made a fine double save, keeping out James Roberts’ fierce hit in a crowded box and dealing with the follow-up before Maidstone doubled their lead in the 25th minute.

What a goal it was, too, as Amantchi played a one-two out wide with the impressive Kyprianou before weaving his way into the box round a series of defenders and firing low past Worner.

The hosts were looking increasingly comfortable as the half wore on, with skipper Sam Corne dictating in central midfield.

Rush went close to a third before half-time, drilling narrowly wide from the edge of the box after combining neatly with Wanjau-Smith.

Appiah’s powerful run from the back took him into the box in added time but he fired into the Town End.

Having looked in control, Maidstone conceded three minutes into the second half.

It looked like substitute Billie Busari miscued his header from a cross - he was surely trying to score - but the ball fell to Seager who nodded in from a couple of yards out.

Wanjau-Smith was inches away from connecting with substitute Liam Sole’s pull-back six yards out as United threatened to restore their two-goal lead before the hour.

They didn’t have long to wait for the third, though, with Amantchi meeting Corne’s 68th-minute corner for his 20th goal of the season.

Ex-Stones loanee Yoan Zouma escaped with a yellow card after going for Amantchi off the ball in the last 10 minutes.

The Stones striker appeared to be the innocent party but also picked up a caution.

Covolan made an excellent low save to push Kieran Phillips’ strike out for a corner in the closing stages, while Jack Jebb’s free-kick hit the post in added time.

Maidstone: Covolan, Fowler, Appiah, Bone, Kyprianou, Gurung, Corne, Aransibia (Sole 52mins), Rush, Wanjau-Smith (Coleman De-Graft 64mins), Amantchi (Hoyte 89mins). Subs not used: Greenidge, Niemczycki.

Havant: Worner, Stanley (Jewitt-White 90+6mins), Innocent, Zouma, McCarthy, Jebb, Berkeley-Agyepong, Deacon (Busari 46mins), Phillips, Seager, Roberts (Stedman 78mins). Subs not used: Mohammed-Kier.

Referee: Lisa Benn.

Attendance: 1,538.