Maidstone enjoyed an impressive victory at the scene of last season’s National League South play-off semi-final defeat.

A goal in each half - Charlie Seaman and Sam Corne the scorers - secured a 2-0 victory at Worthing as United continued their improvement after a difficult start to the season.

It was the Stones’ first visit to Woodside Road since their 2-1 play-off defeat in April, with victory making it five games unbeaten in all competitions for George Elokobi’s side.

Aaron Blair and Tayt Trusty came in for Shaq Coulthirst and the injured Jordan Higgs as Elokobi made two changes to the side who won at Herne Bay in the FA Cup last weekend.

Maidstone made a bright start against a Rebels side who’d lost only one of their opening eight games.

The Stones enjoyed decent early possession and should have had an early opener when Seaman’s long throw was flicked on by Reiss Greenidge to Temi Eweka, who headed over at the back post.

Elokobi’s men were rewarded for their early endeavours in taking a 12th-minute lead.

It was a moment for Worthing’s ex-Ebbsfleet keeper Chris Haigh to forget as he raced off his line to cut out Tayt Trusty’s neat pass but Seaman got there first and rolled into an empty net.

Seaman was in again a minute later, rounding Haigh, but his this time he fired over the bar.

Worthing were causing their own problems with their determination to keep playing out from the back in the face of Maidstone pressure.

They were lucky to get away with overplaying on the edge of their box a couple of times, notably when Jon Benton nabbed possession and fired narrowly wide, and when Antony Papadopolous won the ball and fed the hard-working Blair, who was denied by Haigh.

Worthing grew into the game and had a couple of opportunities towards the end of the first half.

Alex Andre Jr was sharply off his line to thwart ex-Stones striker Mo Faal after the ball broke kindly off defender Eweka.

Andre Jr then stuck out a leg to deny Ollie Starkey after Tommy Willard and Danny Cashman combined to play him in.

A loose first touch took Starkey slightly wider than he intended but it was a decent save nonetheless from Andre Jr.

Greenidge had his head in his hands after nodding wide from Brookes’ deep corner as Maidstone went close to a second after the break.

Further chances followed with Eweka and Corne seeing efforts blocked and Blair just lacking a decent contact before United doubled their lead on the hour mark.

It came amid scenes reminiscent of last season’s play-off match, when Worthing broke and scored the winner after Matt Rush hit the bar for the visitors.

This time the boot was on the other foot, as Maidstone launched a counter-attack after Faal hit the bar for the Rebels, and captain Corne volleyed home Blair’s cross from the left.

Worthing’s best chance of pulling a goal back went when Faal overran the ball from Jack Wadham’s pass as United saw out the game effectively.

Worthing: Haigh, Rea, Young, Black, Bates, Spong (Smith 76mins), Willard (Wheeler 70mins), Cashman, Beard (Colbran 70mins, Faal, Starkey (Wadham 46mins). Subs not used: Cook.

Maidstone: Andre Jr, Eweka, Fowler, Greenidge, Seaman, Corne, Papadopoulos (Coulthirst 79mins), Trusty (Gurung 88mins), Brookes, Benton (Lodovica 90+4mins), Blair. Subs not used: Krasniqi, Holden.

Referee: Tommy Breen.

Attendance: 2,080.