Maidstone secured their first home National League South win of the season against Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday.

Midfielder Jon Benton gave them a deserved half-time lead and they held on for a much-needed 1-0 victory at the Gallagher Stadium.

The hosts put in a dominant first-half display in front of a 2,105-strong crowd.

Hemel goalkeeper Craig King’s first meaningful action saw him parry returning centre-back Reiss Greenidge’s header that came from a third long throw in the opening four minutes.

Four minutes later, Maidstone’s Crawley loanee Antony Papadopoulos nodded over a right-wing cross.

As the home chances kept coming, Pierre Fonkeu flicked wide left-back Ben Brookes’ delivery with 19 minutes on the clock.

Chances in quick succession saw defender Temi Eweka nonchalantly steer a low Brookes corner against the crossbar before United keeper Alexis Andre Jr saved smartly.

He palmed away George Williams’ 20-yard drive to safety in a rare Hemel foray forward during the first period.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, a stretching Papadopoulos stabbed over Charlie Seaman’s low right-wing cross and then Fonkeu drilled inches wide.

But the Tudors, who remain without a league win since September 7, were also looking dangerous on occasion. Midfielder Daniel Roberts found himself in lots of space all of a sudden, only to drag wide his 37th-minute shot when he should have done better.

George Elokobi’s men did go ahead in the 42nd minute, though, as they finally made their first-half dominance count.

The initial effort was saved at point-blank range by King from a lovely cross by Brookes, but Benton hammered home with King now in the net to much relief from the home contingent.

Things were far from going to plan for the visitors, who had Hemel keeper King and ex-Dartford player Brandon Barzey involved in a heated exchange of words when they headed for the changing rooms.

After the restart, the encounter came back to life, as Papadopoulos headed another delivery by the impressive Brookes wide of the target on the hour mark.

An off-the-ball incident then resulted in Stones skipper Sam Corne and away defender Jack Davies being cautioned by referee Matthew Norton.

Seconds after their first change, the home team nearly doubled their lead when King made a brave block to deny Seaman after a flowing 78th-minute move.

An even better opportunity came to effectively seal the result with 10 minutes to go, Benton blasting over in space after a Brookes long throw had found its way through to him.

Brookes twice went close in the 87th minute. His first strike from a free-kick was saved by King and the second crashed against the crossbar.

As the clock ticked into five minutes of injury time, nervy moments for United saw a cross deflected wide off a home player and then they struggled to clear the corner.

But the hosts held on for the clean sheet and it was clear to see how much it meant to the players, goalkeeper Andre Jr quickly rushing to celebrate with his defence.

The result leaves Maidstone 15th, five points behind seventh-placed Dorking but with two league fixtures in hand on them, after their first home triumph this term at the seventh attempt after three draws and three defeats.

Hemel remain level on points with Marc White’s Dorking outfit despite their recent poor form.

There was a moment of Remembrance before kick-off as Maidstone hosted a Poppy appeal launch.

The Stones made two changes from the team which were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Slough last weekend.

Defenders George Fowler and Raphe Brown missed out, the former through illness, as Greenidge and forward Fonkeu came in.

They are next in action in the Kent Senior Cup at rivals Welling on Tuesday, looking to defend their title, ahead of next weekend’s trip to National League Solihull Moors for their first-round FA Cup tie.

Maidstone United: Andre Jr, Eweka, Brookes, Greenidge, Corne, Blair, Seaman, Trusty, Benton (Coulthrist 93mins), Fonkeu (Bentley 75mins), Papadopoulos (Gurung 83mins). Subs not used: Holden, Lodovica.

Hemel Hempstead Town: King, Davies (Iaciofona 73mins), Wishart, Ajayi, Smith, Williams, Roberts (Hemmings 73mins), German (Cerulli 63mins), Ondo (Akanbi 63mins), Barzey, Brown. Sub not used: Innocent.

Referee: Matthew Norton.

Attendance: 2,105.