After losing their last six competitive fixtures - a winless streak which stretched back to the beginning of April last season - The Stones registered their first win of the new campaign away at league newcomers Waltham Abbey largely thanks to an impressive second half performance from substitute Antonio Gonella.

There was some bad news for Maidstone though as striker Meshach Nugent was taken to hospital after being substituted at the break with a suspected broken ankle.

There was little to choose between the two sides in the first half but on 14 minutes The Abbotts should have taken the lead when Billy Holland nutmegged James Peacock and whipped in an inviting cross which was met by the unmarked Aaron Gayle but he headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Chances were then few and far between until the 28 th minute when Ashley Ulph hit the ball long into Meshach Nugent who shot well wide but the deadlock was finally broken on 41 minutes when the home side broke quickly and caught The Stones defence cold leaving Holland to send the ball past the stranded Jamie Turner.

Maidstone made two changes at the break bringing on Gonella and Ashley Dann for Alan Pouton and Nugent and Gonella was involved in a good move on 54 minutes which saw him play a short corner to Jimmy Bottle who picked out Peter Hawkins whose shot on the turn went over.

However, two minutes later another Stones corner caused the Waltham defence problems and when the ball came out to the right hand side of the box Gonella drilled the ball into the net to score an excellent goal on his Maidstone debut.

Gonella continued to look lively at the heart of Maidstone’s forays forward and after going close again on 59 minutes he was involved in the move that lead to The Stones’ winner on 74 minutes when James Pinnock controlled the ball with his chest before swivelling and riffling his shot low into the net from a position close to the middle of the box.

There were some nervous moments for The Stones there after, particularly on 83 minutes when there was a scramble in the penalty area but the ball failed to drop to a Waltham Abbey player and the danger was cleared meaning that Maidstone finally picked up a welcome victory.

Watham Abbey: Billy Holland 40

Maidstone United: Antonio Gonella 56, James Pinnock 74

Watham Abbey: Ashley Harris, Nick Thorogood (Gary Hoy 65), Denny Webb, Dave Ayres, Lee White, Ronnie Jones, Andy Purcell, (Dayo Oshitola 90) James Elmes, Billy Holland, Harry Elmes (Aaron Cato 33, Aaron Gayle. Subs not used: Connor Williams, Joe Taylor.

Maidstone United: Jamie Turner, Nathan Paul, Ashley Ulph, Alan Pouton (Antonio Gonella 45) Peter Hawkins, James Peacock (Tom Parkinson 73), Roland Edge, Jay Saunders, James Pinnock, Meshach Nugent (Ashley Dann 45), Jimmy Bottle. Subs not used: Ant Bodle, Tom Parkinson, Richard Knell.

Alan Walker

Man of the Match

Pictures from Steve Terrell