Riley Court and Ryan Hanson Turn It Around as Maidstone United See Off Ten-Man Hemel Hempstead

Hemel Hempstead Town: George Williams (13')

Maidstone United: Riley Court (56'), Ryan Hanson (73')

Maidstone United came from behind to beat ten-man Hemel Hempstead Town 2-1 at the Focus Community Arena, second-half goals from Riley Court and Ryan Hanson undoing an early George Williams opener. Williams curled in a free-kick on 13 minutes after Dermi Lusala was booked for felling Jesse Effa just outside the box - Lenny Holden got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out - and tempers flared further when Stones boss Craig Fagan was sent from the technical area for his reaction to the decision to award the free-kick.

Maidstone were the better side after the restart, Alex Stepien-Iwumene crashing a shot back off the crossbar inside three minutes of the second half. Hemel's Lee Angol, already booked in the first half for a heavy challenge on George Fowler, was then shown a second yellow for catching Fowler in the face, reducing the home side to ten men - and a minute later, in the 56th, Maidstone drew level: Jayden Davis's low ball into the box was swept in by Court. Hanson thought he had a second soon after, but his finish was ruled out for a handball in the build-up; he made it count for real on 73 minutes, meeting another Davis cross with a thumping header beyond Michael Johnson. Hemel almost snatched a point in stoppage time, substitute Darion Dowrich inches away from turning in a low ball across the six-yard box. The win takes Maidstone back up to second in National League South on 32 points from 16 games, two points behind leaders Ebbsfleet United, who have a game in hand. Source: Maidstone United FC

Form (last 5 league games): ✓−✗✓✓