Maidstone maintained their perfect start to the Ryman League Premier Division season with a hard-fought win over Bury Town.

Skipper Jamie Coyle scored the all-important goal, heading home a long Alex Flisher throw on 63 minutes.

However, delays were the main talking points of a frustrating first half for Maidstone.

After the visitors were held up by bad traffic on the Dartford Crossing, the game kicked-off 15 minutes late and then, after 24 minutes, referee Goldsmith pulled up injured, delaying the game for a further five minutes. Maidstone official Barry Fenn took over as an assistant referee until half-time, when a replacement was found.

Before, and after that, Maidstone were kept at bay by a well-organised Bury side who did their best to frustrate.

However, the visitors, playing a 4-5-1 formation, made a bright start with forward Steve Holder looking to get in behind the Stones defence on a couple of occasions, but they lacked a decent final ball.

Stones slowly got into the game, having the majority of possession without really testing the Bury keeper. That was until the 45th minute when Ben Greenhalgh, who had a lively first half, stung the hands of Marcus Garnham with a shot from the edge of the box that was tipped behind.

Maidstone bought on Ashley Miller for Jay May at half-time to add more pace to their attack, but it was the visitors who started brightly again.

Bury substitute Jack Brame, wearing a face mask protector, had their best chance of the second half after just two minutes when he beat the on-rushing Lee Worgan, only to see his effort loop just wide of the empty net.

And the Suffolk side went close again, this time from a sharp counter-attack, only for Ross Bailey to fire Seb Dunbar’s cross wide.

Maidstone, though, started to claw their way back into the game again.

Flisher failed to get an outstretched boot on a Stephen Butcher cross and then saw a tame shot saved by the Bury keeper after driving into the box after smart work from Alex Brown.

Just after the hour Frannie Collin won and then took a free-kick from just outside the box, forcing a save from keeper Marcus Garnham, with the rebound falling to Brown who fired wildly over from a good position.

Coyle then converted Flisher's long throw from six yards, outmuscling the defence to be first to the ball and his powerful header couldn't be stopped.

Matt Bodkin replaced Greenhalgh with 20 minutes left and he was involved in the move which should have doubled Maidstone's lead on 75 minutes.

A break forward saw Bodkin feed Flisher in down the left, but with Miller and Collin to aim for in the box, he fired the cross over both of them.

The Flisher throw again caused Bury problems minutes later, but this time Collin saw his effort saved.

As Maidstone pushed for a second, Bury looked dangerous on the break and it needed a few well-timed tackles and blocks to prevent them getting in a decent effort on Worgan's goal.

At the other end, Maidstone's final ball let them down as they failed to add a second, but they managed to see out a nervy final few minutes to make it five wins out of five.

Maidstone: Worgan, Butcher, Mills, Coyle, Miles, Brown, Greenhalgh (Bodkin 69mins), Rogers, May (Miller 46mins), Collin, Flisher.

Attendance: 1,687.