Maidstone conceded an 89th-minute winner as their National League South promotion hopes ended at Worthing.

Ollie Pearce, with his second goal of the game, won it for the Rebels - seconds after Stones striker Matt Rush hit the bar.

Talk about the fine margins of football as United’s play-off campaign ended in the semi-finals.

Earlier, Pearce broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, with Matt Bentley levelling for the Stones.

Mo Faal was handed a start after his injury-time winner against Aveley while Michael Klass came in against his old club as Maidstone made two changes from the midweek eliminator.

The Stones lost 5-1 at Woodside Road before Christmas - after winning the early-season game 4-0 - so it was anyone’s guess how this one would pan out.

The Rebels, having scored 104 league goals, are a side who look to get after teams with their passing game but, having conceded 72, they do offer up chances at the other end.

And that was largely how the first half panned out.

Worthing, as expected, played out from the back but they also mixed up their play, with keeper Lucas Covolan alert to dangerous balls over the top.

The Rebels had two big chances before taking the lead.

The first came in the opening minutes with Kane Wills picking out Pearce whose effort was tipped over by Covolan.

The duo combined again with Wills’ clever pass sending Pearce in one-on-one but Covolan made a superb save.

Worthing took the lead in the 24th minute.

George Fowler was penalised for a challenge on Bradley Donaghan and Pearce scored from the spot.

Maidstone responded well to going behind with Faal’s strike pushed over after Rush and Bentley combined outside the box.

They were well in the game and were rewarded with an equaliser five minutes before half-time.

Keeper Oliver Wright kept out Rush’s overhead kick from a Faal cross and Corne’s follow-up, with the loose ball ballooning up to Bentley who headed home.

Danny Cashman blazed over after exchanging passes with Joe Felix early in the second half, while Rush glanced a header wide from Corne’s cross at the other end.

There wasn’t much in the game at all and, if anything, Maidstone were growing in confidence.

The attacking intent was there, getting balls in the box, and playing with the freedom George Elokobi encouraged in the build-up.

United went close to a second when Reiss Greenidge headed wide from Corne’s right-wing corner but they also had to stay switched on to threat of Felix in the other direction.

Rush had a big penalty appeal turned down after Corne released Lamar Reynolds on the counter, with the loose ball falling to Sol Wanjau-Smith whose shot was saved.

Rush hit the bar with two minutes remaining as Maidstone threatened again.

But moments later they were caught out as Felix fed Pearce on the break and he broke into the box and beat Covolan.

United pushed for an equaliser during five minutes of added time but Worthing held on and will host Braintree in the final on May 6.

Worthing: Wright, Colbran, Wills, Pearce, Spong, Lyons-Foster, Felix, Donoghan (Wheeler 72mins), Young, Cashman (Chadwick 90+3mins). Subs not used: Rees, Rye, Luer.

Maidstone: Covolan, Brown, Fowler, Greenidge, Tanga (Reynolds 79mins), Corne, Klass (Bone 75mins), Kyprianou, Bentley, Faal (Wanjau-Smith 75mins), Rush. Subs not used: Adu-Poku, Earle.

Referee: Oliver Mackey.

Attendance: 2,858.