Maidstone United 3 Hastings United 1

MAIDSTONE UNITED enjoyed a fortunate 3-1 home win over Hastings United in Ryman League Division 1 South on Saturday after first half goals from Alex Tiesse and Lynden Rowland, plus a second half header from Ryan Royston.

The Stones took the lead with their first attack on goal when a penalty was awarded for a push on Mario McNish.

Tiesse sent the Hastings keeper the wrong way but otherwise Maidstone were poor and were lucky that Pat Mullin stayed alert in goal when McNish nearly put through his own net with 20 minutes on the clock.

Maidstone took a 2-0 lead two minutes into first half stoppage time when Nick Headley ran the full length of the field and crossed for Rowland to bundle in the second.

Hastings pulled one back 90 seconds after the restart when a shot hit the unlucky Nathan Paul in the face and flew into the back of the net.

But after surviving a hairy 15 minutes the Stones restored their two-goal cushion when Royston headed in directly from Aaron Lacy's long throw.

Maidstone comfortably held onto their lead but manager Lloyd Hume was sent off for dissent while he was warming up as a substitute.

* Keep up to date with all the Stones news every week in the Kent Messeger.