Maidstone are celebrating National League safety after winning at relegated Chester.

The Stones opened up a two-goal lead through Blair Turgott’s penalty and Michael Phillips’ first goal for the club.

They had Alex Wynter sent off for a second booking before half-time and saw Chester reply before the hour.

But any nerves were put to bed when defender Josh Hare added a fine clincher after the hosts, anticipating a foul, stopped playing.

It was the the Stones’ first away win in more than five months and one that ensures a third season in the top flight of non-league football.

Chester’s young side included five homegrown players and starts for goalscorer Cain Noble, 17, and Matty Thomson, 18.

They were full of enthusiasm and could have been a couple up inside 10 minutes with United shaky at the back.

But they couldn’t break the deadlock and, as often happens when a young team go behind, the confidence dropped.

Maidstone were twice in trouble early on with James Akintunde racing on to through balls.

His first chance was snuffed out by a good Alex Finney recovery challenge while an attempted lob was easily dealt with by Stones keeper Lee Worgan.

Noble then swept home what Chester thought was the opener but the linesman’s flag went up for offside.

Wynter flashed a header wide from Turgott’s corner before Maidstone took a 19th-minute lead from the penalty spot.

Turgott was the man fouled by James Jones and he got up to bury his kick low to keeper Andy Firth’s right.

Wynter picked up his first yellow card in the 27th minute for going in on Firth.

He could count himself unfortunate, with the ball there to be won after the keeper parried Jamar Loza’s backheel.

It would prove costly when he fouled Tom Crawford three minutes before half-time and picked up a second yellow.

Before that, the Stones doubled their lead with Phillips punishing a mix-up at the back and rounding Firth to put Jay Saunders’ men two up after 32 minutes.

Ten-man Maidstone shored up midfield by introducing Reece Prestedge at the break - but he was booked inside a minute.

Chester rediscovered their early form and were back in the game in the 57th minute when a mistake by Joe Anderson saw Craig Mahon’s cross headed home by local lad Noble.

That got Chester and their fans going with Nathan Brown testing Worgan soon after.

But Maidstone added a third in bizarre circumstances in the 74th minute.

Chester, expecting the referee to award a foul against Phillips, stopped playing just outside the area.

But Phillips kept going and fed Tom Wraight whose lay-off was drilled home first-time by Hare 25 yards out.

Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Hare, Finney, Anderson, Wynter, Lewis, Phillips (Reason 84mins), Turgott, Coker (Wraight 58mins), Loza (Prestedge 46mins). Subs not used: Paxman, Richards.

Attendance: 1,728.