Maidstone United came from behind to claim victory against Welling United.

Both teams were much changed from when they met in the last league game played at the Gallagher Stadium in front of nearly two thousand paying spectators before the pandemic brought an early close to last season. This game was played behind closed doors with only club officials and media in attendance.

After their disappointment of losing to Sheppey in the F.A. Cup three days earlier, Welling could barely have got off to a better start when going ahead in the sixth minute. Chris Lewington was only to beat out a Lionel Ainsworth shot and Stefan Ilic followed up to smash home his first Welling goal.

Scott Rendell, a threat throughout, headed over for the Stones before Ainsworth had another low shot saved by former Welling goalkeeper Lewington.

Reise Charles-Cook, on his Welling debut, then made a spectacular save from Sam Corne. Kahleem Simons glanced a header wide for the Wings before a long Charles-Cook punt found Rowan Liburd. Although he out-muscled George Elokabi, he couldn’t get it in front of him and could only hook over Lewington and over the bar.

Charlie Seaman had a free kick beaten out acrobatically by Charles-Cook before George Porter made the most of some hesitant defending to get a shot away but the wings keeper blocked with his legs. Joe Ellul then crossed but Seaman headed wide as the Stones finished the half strongly.

After the break, Maidstone continued to push and Nathan Green did well to head out a Rendell cross before a Saidou Khan free kick hit the last man in the wall and deflected just wide with Charles-Cook rooted to the spot.

Eventually, Maidstone breached the Welling dam and levelled although the goal was as a result of a defensive blunder. Porter played a ball in behind and Richie Danquah’s header back was too short for Charles-Cook allowing Rendell to nip in and nick it home.

Simons then got in behind but Ellul used his guile and strength to put him off and Lewington was able to clear up. At the other end Rendell flicked on but former Welling players Corne and Porter got in each other’s way and neither were able to get a clean shot away.

Substitute Dipo Akinyemi flicked a header to Ainsworth out wide on the right but he fired high and wide.

Five minutes remained when Maidstone claimed the winner. The excellent Seaman cut in from the right and shrugged off two challenges too easily before firing beyond Charles-Cook.

Maidstone United: Lewington, Hoyte, Brown, Krasniqi, Seaman, Elokabi, Porter, Corne, Rendell, Ellul, Khan.

Subs not used: Olutade, Agboola, Constable, Odusanya, Pinto.

Goalscorers: Rendell (62), Seaman (85)

Yellow cards: Hoyte

Red cards: None

Welling United: Charles-Cook, Ilic, Boateng (Azeez 75), Beeden, Danquah, Cook, Ainsworth, McLean (Barrington 87), Liburd (Akinyemi 80), Green.

Subs not used: Ryan, Maja.

Goalscorers: Ilic (6)

Yellow cards: Boateng

Red cards: None

Referee: Jason Richardsonson

Assistants: Kane Dempster and James Hurst