Maidstone continued their improvement with victory over Maidenhead at the Gallagher Stadium.

Dominic Odusanya’s first goal of the season and a Regan Booty penalty put the Stones in control before Charlee Adams replied from a free-kick.

Christie Pattisson’s hardworking display after coming back into the side down the right was rewarded when he added Maidstone’s third early in the second half.

And while Reece Smith replied deep into added time, it's now in one defeat in six National League games for the Stones, whose win moved them four points clear of the relegation zone.

Pattisson was one of three changes to the side who drew with Oldham last weekend.

Another, defender Joe Ellul, recently recovered from an infected toe, lasted only 11 minutes before hobbling off, to be replaced by Kodi Lyons-Foster.

Maidstone were already in front by then after a flying out of the traps against Alan Devonshire’s side, the goal coming in just the third minute.

Sam Corne played a quick free-kick wide to Jerome Binnom-Williams, who made progress down the left before playing the ball back inside to Deacon.

Deacon’s cutback was met by Pattisson and when his first-time strike was blocked, Odusanya buried the rebound into the bottom corner from just inside the box.

Jack Barham saw a deflected 20-yard strike hit the bar after running on to Pattisson’s flick, before Maidstone doubled their lead from the penalty spot on 18 minutes.

Adams was penalised for handball as Binnom-Williams clipped the ball into the box and Booty sent a classy penalty into the corner.

Maidstone almost had a third when a lightning counter-attack saw Booty and Deacon combine to play in Pattisson, whose strike was tipped over by Dan Gyollai.

Maidenhead, having earlier seen Emile Acquah denied by Ryan Sandford after a long ball split the defence, grew into the game around the half-hour mark.

And they were back in business in the 36th minute with Adams thumping a well-worked free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards.

Maidstone lived dangerously in the closing stages of the first half, Sandford with a good save from Acquah after another ball over the top caused problems and Lyons-Foster blocking the follow-up.

The hosts restored their two-goal lead three minutes into the second half.

Pattisson was the scorer with a thumping first-time finish past Gyollai after great work by Corne down the left to squeeze between two defenders before squaring.

Sandford made a superb reaction save to his left from Remy Clerima’s header at a corner as Maidenhead threatened a quick response.

They had another good chance soon after when Kane Ferdinand sent a header wide from Sam Barratt’s cross when well-placed to score.

Maidstone were starting to look comfortable in the closing stages and they almost had a third after a neat move involving Odusanya and Deacon saw Binnom-Williams denied by Gyollai’s legs.

But there was a late scare when Smith squeezed home Maidenhead's second in the fifth minute of injury time.

Maidstone: Sandford, Fowler, Ellul (Lyons-Foster 11mins), Greenidge, Binnom-Williams, Booty, Odusanya, Corne, Pattisson, Barham (Adarkwa 90+1mins), Deacon. Subs not used: Mersin, Galvin, Fawole.

Maidenhead: Gyollai, Asare, Kpekawa, Clerima, Barratt (Clifton 80mins), Nathaniel-George (McCoulsky 62mins), Ferdinand, Acquah, Smith, Massey (Odutayo 63mins), Adams. Subs not used: Sparkes, Upward.

Referee: Wayne Cartmel.

Attendance: 1,825 (54 away).