Two goals in seven minutes before half-time gave Maidstone victory over Tonbridge at the Gallagher Stadium.

Keeper Jonny Henly scored an own goal after a mix-up with defender Kodi Lyons-Foster and Sam Corne doubled the hosts’ lead from the penalty spot.

Tonbridge had plenty of the game in the second half but United absorbed the pressure to run out winners in the first game of 2024.

Maidstone made a bright start attacking the Genco Stand in front of a big New Year’s Day derby crowd of 3,021.

They enjoyed decent possession early on without creating anything clear-cut.

Tonbridge grew into the game with Paris Lock, their new loan signing from AFC Wimbledon, forcing a decent low save from Lucas Covolan after working space for a shot.

Matt Rush, scorer of Maidstone’s goal at Longmead on Boxing Day, fired wide after running on to Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong’s flick in what was the hosts’ best opening before breaking the deadlock.

The first goal came in the 34th minute and owed plenty to Sol Wanjau-Smith after he kept the ball alive with a clever backheel down the line to Harry Kyprianou.

Kyprianou crossed to the near post where ex-Stones loanee Lyons-Foster’s header hit Angels keeper Henly and went in.

It initially went down as a Lyons-Foster own goal but replays proved otherwise, with the ball going wide before hitting Henly.

Maidstone went after a second, with Henly sticking out a leg to deny Berkeley-Agyepong from a Timmy Abraham cut-back.

Number two followed from the penalty spot with Wanjau-Smith going down under challenge from Tariq Hinds.

Referee Ayrton Hursey pointed to the spot and vice-captain Corne fired into the top corner in the 41st minute.

Abraham sent a volley into the side-netting as Maidstone bossed the opening stages of the second half before Lewis Gard hit the wall from a free-kick on the edge of the box at the other end.

Jordan Greenidge’s header from a Mo Dabre cross was comfortably saved by Covolan as Angels looked for a way back into the game, while Wanjau-Smith bent an effort wide for Maidstone.

The visitors were having a go and a nice run and pass from Jernade Meade released Lock but the shooting angle was against him and Covolan made a straightforward save.

Stones substitute Lamar Reynolds had a chance to kill the game off after finding himself one-on-one with Henly with 10 minutes left, but the finish was lacking.

Maidstone: Covolan, Hoyte, Greenidge, Kyprianou, Bone, Corne, Berkeley-Agyepong (Brown 87mins), Abraham (Sole 74mins), Rush, Wanjau-Smith (Reynolds 69mins). Subs not used: Ezennolim, Earle.

Tonbridge: Henly, Hinds, Sutcliffe, Lyons-Foster, Meade, Higgs (Mampolo 71mins), Wagstaff, Gard, Dabre, Greenidge, Lock (Yeboah 80mins). Subs not used: Gibb, French, Janneh.

Referee: Ayrton Hursey.

Attendance: 3,021 (491 away).