Maidstone continued their unbeaten run in National League South with a win over Hornchurch that was far more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.

Centre-half Temi Eweka’s early header was enough to earn the points but the hosts dominated in an impressive display and should have won by a few goals.

One was enough, however, and they’re now seven games unbeaten in the league since losing to Chelmsford at the start of September.

Maidstone were unchanged from the side who drew at Dorking with 10 men in midweek, with defender Reiss Greenidge available before his ban kicks in at Torquay on Tuesday.

The hosts made a flying start at the Gallagher, threatening to overrun a Hornchurch who didn’t know what had hit them.

George Elokobi’s side took the lead in just the fifth minute after Aaron Blair and Jon Benton combined well to win a corner.

Ben Brookes took it and his outswinger was headed home by centre-back Eweka for his third goal of the season.

United were celebrating again two minutes later with Benton firing home after an Eweka shot was blocked following Brookes’ long throw but this time the linesman’s flag went up for offside. For no obvious reason, looking at the replay.

Some of Maidstone’s attacking play was a joy to watch as Hornchurch struggled to clear their heads, the little combinations between Blair and Benton and support out wide from Antony Papadopoulos and Charlie Seaman causing plenty of problems.

Benton went close after linking up with Blair, a touch off a defender taking his shot past the post.

And when Sam Corne, George Fowler, Tayt Trusty and Benton combined to feed Blair, his ball across the six-yard box just evaded the onrushing Papadopoulos.

Hornchurch substitute Darren McQueen, an early replacement for injured ex-Gills striker Scott Kashket, had an effort from 20 yards pushed over by Stones keeper Alexis Andre Jr.

That was the visitors’ only effort on target of the first half while they almost conceded again in injury time when Papadopoulos latched on to Seaman’s ball over the top, doing everything right before firing narrowly wide.

Blair missed the target with a header from Corne’s cross and a flying run from Papadopoulos might have ended in a second, while Greenidge went close from another Brookes corner as Maidstone started the second half well.

There was a little warning for the hosts when ex-Stones midfielder Tom Wraight sent Liam Nash through on goal before the hour mark but Andre Jr made a simple save.

Mason Terry denied Eweka at the other end, then a loose ball dropped to the unmarked Trusty following a corner but stayed out of the net.

The chances kept coming with a decent strike from Seaman diverted wide and from the resulting Brookes corner, Eweka lost his man but headed wide.

A big opening followed when Seaman’s cross to the back post found Papadopoulos but keeper Terry threw himself in the way of the shot.

That was followed by the best chance of the lot as substitute Harry Lodovica won the ball and squared to the unmarked Blair eight yards out but his shot was blocked on the line.

Maidstone: Andre Jr, Fowler, Eweka, Greenidge, Brookes, Corne, Trusty, Seaman, Benton (Fonkeu 80mins), Papadopoulos (Lodovica 80mins), Blair. Subs not used: Coulthirst, Holden, Gurung.

Hornchurch: Terry, Phillips, Gibbs, Scott, Saunders (Yusuff 76mins), Wraight, Akinwande, Nash, Kashket (McQueen 15mins), Harvest, Clemence (Muldoon 62mins). Subs not used: Bertram-Cooper, Adams.

Referee: Tom Ellsmore.

Attendance: 2,132.