Jay Saunders hailed his magnificent eleven after they put seven past Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday.

After a surprise 4-1 defeat to Thamesmead Town in midweek, Maidstone needed to come back strongly if they wanted to show that they were still title contenders in the Ryman Premier League; but after a weak start, they were able to outplay their opponents to show that they are still in the race for a place in the Conference South.

The Stones started with a weakened midfield as a result of Fabio Saraiva’s absence, Alex Brown took his place, but other than that Maidstone were able to play a very strong team with the addition of Kaiyne Woolery who joined his hometown team on loan from Tamworth this week.

Hampton and Richmond were coming into the game in the clubs best form in years, having lost their last game in late November, since then they have gained 15 points from a possible 21 as well as having scored 21 goals in that time, courtesy of their two main strikers, Charlie Moone and Dave Tarpey.

It only took two minutes before the visitors showed Maidstone their devastating attacking play, a long ball was put into the direction of Moone who was able to flick the ball on to his partner, Tarpey controlled the ball well before sliding the ball past the onrushing Lee Worgan. Moone had a chance to score a minute after, but he was unable to double his teams lead after Worgan was able to hold onto the striker’s long effort.

The beavers needed to take their chances against a determined Maidstone team, who were able to equalise with just thirteen minutes on the clock, Tom Mills found Zac Attwood down the left wing, the attacker was able to cut outside onto his weaker left foot before powering a shot across the goalkeeper to give Maidstone a chance. This was matched soon after by Alex Brown, who, after a free kick had been cleared, was able to control the ball on his chest before unleashing a shot off the post and in to put Maidstone into a winning position.

Despite this, Hampton came back to give themselves hope, after a brilliant run down the right wing from Luke Wanadio his cross wasn’t dealt with by the Maidstone defence, the ball evaded Dan Parkinson, leaving Joe Turner in plenty of space to smash a shot into the near post with no chance for Worgan.

The visitors had a chance to go into half time one goal up, but Justyn Robert’s free direction of Moone who was able to flick the ball on to his partner, Tarpey controlled the ball well before sliding the ball past the onrushing Lee Worgan. Moone had a chance to score a minute after, but he was unable to double his teams lead after Worgan was able to hold onto the striker’s long effort.

The beavers needed to take their chances against a determined Maidstone team, who were able to equalise with just thirteen minutes on the clock, Tom Mills found Zac Attwood down the left wing, the attacker was able to cut outside onto his weaker left foot before powering a shot across the goalkeeper to give Maidstone a chance.

This was matched soon after by Alex Brown, who, after a free kick had been cleared, was able to control the ball on his chest before unleashing a shot off the post and in to put Maidstone into a winning position.

Despite this, Hampton came back to give themselves hope, after a brilliant run down the right wing from Luke Wanadio his cross wasn’t dealt with by the Maidstone defence, the ball evaded Dan Parkinson, leaving Joe Turner in plenty of space to smash a shot into the near post with no chance for Worgan.

The visitors had a chance to go into half time one goal up, but Justyn Robert’s free direction of Moone who was able to flick the ball on to his partner, Tarpey controlled the ball well before sliding the ball past the onrushing Lee Worgan. Moone had a chance to score a minute after, but he was unable to double his teams lead after Worgan was able to hold onto the striker’s long effort.

The beavers needed to take their chances against a determined Maidstone team, who were able to equalise with just thirteen minutes on the clock, Tom Mills found Zac Attwood down the left wing, the attacker was able to cut outside onto his weaker left foot before powering a shot across the goalkeeper to give Maidstone a chance.

This was matched soon after by Alex Brown, who, after a free kick had been cleared, was able to control the ball on his chest before unleashing a shot off the post and in to put Maidstone into a winning position.

Despite this, Hampton came back to give themselves hope, after a brilliant run down the right wing from Luke Wanadio his cross wasn’t dealt with by the Maidstone defence, the ball evaded Dan Parkinson, leaving Joe Turner in plenty of space to smash a shot into the near post with no chance for Worgan.

The visitors had a chance to go into half time one goal up, but Justyn Robert’s free kick grazed the crossbar leaving Maidstone with time to go forward in search of the lead.

Alex Flisher’s set pieces were causing Hampton’s defence problems, and Maidstone had an opportunity to score from a counter attack which went out for a corner. Flisher’s cross fell into a crowd of players at the near post, but shots from Zac Attwood, Michael Phillips and Jerrome Sobers were blocked in a goalline scramble, giving the Stones one more chance before half time.

Flisher once again took the corner towards the far post which was cleared straight tback to him, the winger looked up and saw a space at the near post, after a touch to get the ball out of his feet, the winger was able to unleash an unstoppable shot to give the stones a single goal lead at half time.

Maidstone came out of half time firing on all cylinders, it took just two minutes before Frannie Collin’s effort from the edge of the area flew in past Rodney Chiweshe after Tom Mills found Maidstones top goalscorer from an amazing run down the left wing, Flisher’s corners continued to torment the Boro defence, and Jack Parkinson got on the end of another corner soon after to give the stones a three goal lead.

Maidstone continued to hassle their opponents and they could have scored ten if it wasn’t for a set of outstanding saves in the second half, soon after diving bravely at the feet of Collin he had to make terrific save, diving full length to deny the striker for a third time in five minutes.

It wasn’t long until he was beaten again though, after a physical run down the left wing, Alex Flisher’s cross was cleared straight to Nathan Campbell, the substitute was able to take a good touch to control the ball before pushing it into the path of Collin whose first time shot shot was parried into the path of Michael Phillips who passed the ball into an open goal to make the score 6-2; two minutes later Maidstone scored their final goal of the afternoon, substitute Charley Robertson took advantage of the tired defence, after turning past the left back he was able to place a shot past the goalkeeper to score his teams 7th.

After that convincing win, Maidstone remain unbeaten at home and stay in second in the table after Wealdstone beat Bury Town 3-0, the stones are just one point away from Dulwich Hamlet who were able to beat Harrow Borough 3-2.

Their next game is away to 21st placed East Thurrock on Tuesday evening before they travel to promotion rivals Kingstonian next Saturday.

Maidstone United: Worgan, Parkinson (Cox), Mills, Brown (Robertson), Sobers, Phillips, Woolery (Campbell), Parkinson, Attwood, Collin, Flisher

Subs not used: Harris, Godman

Hampton And Richmond Borough: Chiweshe, Brewer, Wells, Lake (Simmonds), Finney, Roberts, Wanadio (Harris), Carder (Okimeji), Tarpey, Moone, Turner

Subs not used: Mills, Powell

Booked: Roberts

Attendance: 1953