It was an afternoon of real contrasts as an out-of-sorts Kingstonian suffered their first home defeat to a determined Maidstone side who thoroughly deserved their first win of the season.

The Ks backline was caught flat-footed as the Kent side helped themselves to an early goal which proved to be enough.

Although Ks kept battling away, especially in the second half, the Maidstone central defenders especially David Hawkins, comfortably stopped their progress.

Hawkins cut out a through ball from Dean Lodge in the dying seconds which certainly guaranteed his side three valuable away points.

Stones keeper Andy Walker was not seriously troubled and comfortably pulled routine crosses out of the air all afternoon.

The misery was compounded for Ks manager Alan Dowson when attacking defender Tom Bird received a second yellow card late on and was sent off.

Ks have a busy week, they need to get back on track tonight (Monday September 20th, 7.45pm k.o. at Vale Farm) away to Hendon in more league action.

Next Saturday they visit Margate in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Ks started well when Bird's free-kick from right was headed over his own bar by Stones defender James Peacock.

Then a Matt Gray corner from the right was headed out on the far post by an overstretching Tobi Jinadu.

Stones midfielder Colin Richmond sent in the first of a series of dangerous free-kicks that flew across the face of the Ks goal.

On 10 minutes Stones striker Danny Hockton sliced a drive wide from the edge of the Ks box.

Six minutes later came the only goal of the game when midfielder ANT BODLE took on a long run into the Ks box, his effort wasn't that well struck, but it was placed just beyond a full-stretch Rob Tolfrey finding the right-hand corner.

That woke Ks up, Gray whipped in a well-struck free-kick from the left which was punched clear by Walker stationed on his line.

Gray repeated the exercise but this time Walker held on the ball.

Another awkward free-kick from Richmond was scrambled past Tolfrey but a push was spotted on the Ks keeper.

With two minutes to the break Stones winger Jake Hobbs took off down the right and his inch-perfect cross found an unmarked Hockton on the far post but his on-target header was caught by an acrobatic Tolfrey on his line.

In the final minute of the first half Gray sent in an edge of the box free-kick low around the defensive wall but straight at Walker.

In additional time Hockton took a long clearance from Walker deep into the Ks box but his fiercely-struck rising drive was blocked by the outcoming Tolfrey.

Ks almost levelled when a Carl Wilson-Denis lob from way out on the left saw an outstretched Walker claw the ball out for a corner.

Gray took off down the right, but from the edge of the Maidstone box, blasted over.

The second half started with a Bird free-kick right on the edge of the away box, he set up Lodge darting in, but he got his first-time effort all-wrong.

On the hour a lovely through ball from Lodge was meant for a lurking Traynor deep in the away box but he was immediately blocked.

Then Lodge beat two defenders but fired straight at Walker.

Then another chance was went begging when Wilson-Denis did well to control a loose ball in the Stones box, he set up Thompson, but he dragged his shot wide.

After 72 minutes a long clearance from Tolfrey was headed on by sub Billy Dunn, who had a useful cameo, into the path of Traynor racing towards the Stones goal but he fired wide of the near post.

A long high ball from Jinadu found Thompson on the far post but he headed straight at Walker.

With four minutes remaining a frustrated Bird cannoned the ball against the perimeter fence in front of the grandstand so referee David Woodford presented him with a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. It seemed to sum up K's afternoon.

Ks. 1. Rob Tolfrey 2. Dean Hamlin 3. Tom Bird 4. Tobi Jinadu 5. Gary MacDonald 6. Max Hustwick 7. Matt Gray (sub Sam Clayton, 74mins) 8. Adam Thompson (capt) 9. Bobby Traynor 10. Carl Wilson-Denis (sub Billy Dunn, 66mins) 11. Dean Lodge.

Subs: 12. Lee Hall (not used) 14. Jean-Sylvain Dossou (not used) 15. Sam Clayton 16. Billy Dunn 17. Nic Taylor (G/k - not used).

K's Red Cards: Bird

K's Yellow Cards: Bird, Thompson

K's Man of the Match: Dean Hamlin

Attendance: 384