Maidstone won their first home game in the National League with a well earned victory over Essex rivals Braintree and continued their dream as they moved up to seventh in the League and next for them is League leaders Tranmere.

The game started with Maidstone pressing Braintree back & in the 3^rd minute a Alex Flisher long throw into the area saw Kevin Lokko’s header go just past the post, but in the very next minute they went ahead as Ben Greenhalgh running from halfway got 20 yards out before passing into the path of Bobby-Joe Taylor who controlled it & shot past a startled Ross Fitzsimmons making his debut.  Braintree were woken up by this & in the 6^th minute Jon Ashton saw his free kick from 30 yards force Lee Worgan to save it at the 2^nd attempt.

Three minutes later a Greenhalgh short corner to Taylor who cut inside & his shot from 18 yards was deflected wide of the goal. Braintree could have equalised in the 11^th minute when a corner to the back post saw Ashton rise & head across the goal for Ian Gayle but it hit him on the shoulder & hit the crossbar & out for a goal kick. Maidstone were enjoying themselves tonight as chances came as in the 16^th minute Flisher retrieved the ball on the by-line went forward towards goal & saw his shot deflected for a corner, but Braintree were still a danger with set plays as in the 19^th minute a corner to the back post found Ashton who headed goal wards only for Lee Barnard to see his snap shot from 3 yards go over the bar.

In the 25^th minute Worgan was in action as he pushed Rohdell Gordon’s free kick from 25 yards round the post. Five minutes later Maidstone scored their second to settle their nerves when Jack Paxman 40 yards out put Taylor in on goal, he controlled it went inside & his shot took a deflection beating Fitzsimmons. Two minutes later it was nearly three as Tom Murphy on the right wing lost possession but the ball went loose & Jack Evans from 30 yards blasted his shot just over the bar.

The last two half chances of the half went Braintree’s way as in the 40^th minute a long throw into the area by Harry Lee saw it flicked on forcing Worgan to tip over the bar & then in the 43^rd minute a Lee cross from the right found Lee Barnard headed over the bar. The half time whistle went & Jay Saunders would have been the happier of the two managers.

The second half was only seconds old when Flisher latched onto a long ball went into the area but fell over from the challenge, Penalty was the cry but the referee said play on.  In the 56^th minute Maidstone could have gone three up in bizarre fashion as Greenhalgh on halfway flicked the ball forward for Flisher but he was offside so Greenhalgh went after it got it powered into the area & his lob over Fitzsimmons just went over the bar.

In football they say being two goals up is dangerous & in the 61^st minute Braintree nearly got a goal back when a Lee long throw into the area found Gayle who from 5 yards out saw his header go just wide. Another chance came Maidstone’s way in the 77^th minute when Flisher’s low cross was half cleared back to him & he headed on for Greenhalgh who from two yards out saw his shot saved then in the 82^nd minute Flisher was clear on goal when Ashton tugged him down just outside the area & a free kick was given & Ashton received a straight Red card.

Flisher stepped up for the free kick & his shot was parried away by Fitzsimmons but straight to James Rogers who saw his shot blocked. The game was nearly over when in the 93^rd minute Joe Maybanks got a consolation goal for Braintree when he received the ball on the far post & he drilled his shot in the bottom left hand corner giving Worgan no chance. The final whistle went & the Maidstone fans celebrated their second win on the trot.

Maidstone United: Worgan, Mills, Lokko, Rogers, Paxman (Sweeney, 60), Flisher, Evans,  Murphy (Hall-Johnson, 74), Acheampong, Taylor (Karagiannis, 84), Greenhalgh

Subs not used:   Coyle, Richards

Booked:  Paxman

Braintree: Fitzsimmons, Williams, Okimo, Lee, Gayle, Ashton, Midson, Barnard (Cheek, 69), Akinola, Gordon (Maybanks, 78), Corne

Subs not used:  Fagan, Rees,  Goodman

Booked:  Williams

Sent Off:  Ashton (82)

Referree:  C.O’Donnell

Assistants:  Reed & Bonneywell

Fourth Official:  Packman

Att: 2242