Maidstone United failed to break down a stubborn Hampton and Richmond Borough side in a dull goalless draw at the Gallagher on Tuesday night.
Stones had the better of the chances but ultimately did not do enough to warrant victory as they have now failed to win either of the first two home games of the new season.
Contrary to the latter stages the game started brightly with Maidstone’s Bruno Andrade, brought in as one of four changes to the side, went close twice early on but was thwarted by the excellent Ted Curd in the Beavers net.
Hampton almost went ahead when Bunmi Babajide latched on to Jake Gray’s perfectly weighted through ball only for Stones stopper Alexis Andre Jr to keep parity.
On 20 minutes Aaron Blair played Andrade in on goal but Curd did well to sprint out and deny the lively Portuguese forward.
The hosts had the better of the half overall with Sam Corne and Bivesh Gurung pulling the strings from midfield, the latter looking particularly good.
After the interval the away side began to get more of a foothold in the game and captain James Roberts went close twice, cutting in off the left on both occasions but failing to hit the target.
Then came the chance of the match, Stones winger Blair found himself unmarked inside the box and his well stuck effort look destined for the bottom corner but Curd got a strong hand down to deny Maidstone a precious goal.
George Elokobi’s men kept pushing, Reiss Greenidge headed wide and when Ben Brookes’ free kick evaded everyone and was nodded off the line it felt inevitable that they would not get the winner.
The Beavers could have won it in the dying stages, substitute Alex Wall hit a fantastic volley just wide from Kristian Campbell’s pinpoint cross but the game ended goalless.
Not one that will last too long in the memory of the 2,135 in attendance as Maidstone lay in 12th now, already five points off the early National League South pacesetters, Farnborough, Hampton and Richmond in 20th.
Maidstone United: Alexis Andre Jr, Temi Eweka, Ben Brookes, Reiss Greenidge, George Fowler, Sam Corne (C), Aaron Blair, Shaq Coulthirst, Jon Benton (Matt Bentley 74), Bruno Andrade (Arj Krasniqi 69), Bivesh Gurung (Pierre Fonque 69)
Hampton & Richmond Borough: Ted Curd, Kristian Campbell, Mike Atkinson (Alex Wall 77) Josh Keeya, James Roberts (C), Jake Gray, Jack Taylor, Bunmi Babajide (Jaden Brissett 86), Archy Taylor, Jerry Wiltshire, Alfie Williams.
Attendance: 2,135
Referee: Jack Willmore
Man of the Match: Ted Curd