Maidstone crashed to defeat against relegation rivals Maidenhead on a miserable night at the Gallagher.

A win would have taken United out of the National League relegation zone but a poor performance was ruthlessly punished.

Defender Will De Havilland scored twice but Adrian Clifton’s double and goals from Alfie Kilgour and Sam Nombe gave Alan Devonshire’s side a convincing victory.

The Stones had Ollie Muldoon sent off at 2-1 down and it was 10-a-side during the second half with Ayo Obileye dismissed for headbutting Elliott Romain.

The warning signs were there as a pacy Magpies side caused plenty of early problems.

Twice they got in behind the Stones defence in the opening minutes, James Akintunde blazing over and Clifton hitting his own man.

A goal looked on the cards and it arrived in the 10th minute with James Comley’s corner headed downwards and into the net by Kilgour at the far post.

Clifton had a goal ruled out for a foul before Maidstone equalised against the run of play.

It came in the 14th minute with big defender Charlie Wassmer keeping the ball in play on the left and crossing for De Havilland to head home.

Robinson diverted a header over from a Muldoon corner but Maidenhead were looking the better side with United all over the place as the visitors ran at them.

The Magpies regained the lead in the 31st minute with Nombe beating Muldoon on the byline and squaring for Akintunde. His shot was parried by Ethan Ross and Clifton finished the rebound.

Maidstone’s night went from bad to worse when Muldoon, booked for an early foul, was harshly shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Comley.

Clifton might have added a third after leaving Wassmer trailing but Maidenhead didn’t have long to wait to score again.

They went 3-1 up four minutes before the break when Clifton’s deep cross was met by debutant Nombe, whose header went back across goal and in.

Maidstone made a triple change at the break with Rob Swaine, Aryan Tajbakhsh and Romain replacing Wassmer, George McLennan and Josh Taylor.

But the 10 men conceded again two minutes into the second half, with Clifton beating Swaine and finishing across Ross after Paxman lost possession.

Maidstone pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute when De Havilland smashed home his second of the night.

And there was further hope five minutes later when Maidenhead defender Obileye was sent off for headbutting Romain after a clash outside the box.

Maidstone gave it a right good go, with chances for Paxman, Powell and Tajbakhsh, but it took a smart low save from Ross to deny Nana Owusu a fifth for the visitors.

Maidstone: Ross, Phillips, De Havilland, Wassmer (Swaine 46mins), McLennan (Tajbakhsh 46mins), Muldoon, Edobor, Paxman, Powell, Taylor (Romain 46mins), Robinson. Subs not used: Walton, Richards.

Attendance: 1,829 (34 away).