Blair Turgott scored an injury-time penalty as Maidstone claimed their first win under Harry Wheeler.

It looked for all the world as though a scrappy game at fellow strugglers Braintree was heading for a stalemate.

But Turgott was fouled in the dying seconds of added time and he got up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Stones boss Wheeler named three of his new signings in the starting XI.

There were debuts for Lawrie Wilson and Jack Doyle at wing-back while midfielder Olu Durojaiye came in to face his old club.

The other two new boys, Jake Cassidy and Norman Wabo, came off the bench as Andre Coker, Michee Efete and Joe Quigley missed out on the squad completely.

Maidstone lined up with midfielder Simon Walton in the centre of a back three for what was always going to be a battle.

Braintree made most of the running in a poor first half between two struggling sides.

They seemed to have more room in midfield, Cameron James seeing plenty of the ball but, like Maidstone, they’ve struggled for goals all season and didn’t have the quality to make their possession count.

The Iron should have scored from the one real clear chance of the half.

It came from a Billy Crook corner with Ricky Gabriel planting a free header straight at Lee Worgan.

Their other decent opening saw Reece Grant loop a header over the bar from James’ ball.

Maidstone’s best moment of the first half came on the break with Jack Paxman freeing Turgott.

Turgott, back from suspension, made good progress down the left before cutting inside and working keeper Ben Killip at his near post.

Turgott forced a save from Killip just after the break before a scare for the Stones when James’ pass split the defence and freed Grant.

Worgan dived bravely at the feet of the Braintree man but stayed down and required a couple of minutes’ treatment before getting to his feet.

Grant went in again on Worgan soon after - and this time picked up a booking.

Stones half-time substitute Cassidy blazed over after a neat exchange with Turgott, while Worgan made a fine low save from Mohamed Bettamer.

A mistake by Wilson let in Justin Amaluzar in the last 10 minutes but he made a good recovery challenge.

Injury time was just about up when Turgott stood his ground in the box and earned a spot-kick, with Braintree not happy.

Maidstone: Worgan, Wilson, De Havilland, Walton, Finney, Doyle, Durojaiye (Phillips 58mins), Lewis, Paxman (Wabo 81mins), Turgott, Mullings (Cassidy 46mins). Subs not used: Loza, Twumasi.

Attendance: 807.