Maidstone United's Five-Match Winning Run Ends at Braintree

Braintree Town: Alfie Matthews (64'), Alfie Matthews (79' pen)

Maidstone United: Tom Leahy (90+5' pen)

Maidstone United's five-match winning run came to an end at Braintree Town, who came out on top 2-1 to hand the National League South leaders their first defeat in over a month. Alfie Matthews scored twice for Braintree either side of a stoppage-time Tom Leahy penalty that gave the final score a narrower look than the game itself. Maidstone's own site has since published a full match report with scorers and timings, added here on 16 September.

Maidstone had the better of a goalless first half without finding a breakthrough. Riley Court dragged an effort wide after combining with Leone Gravata, George Fowler saw a deflected shot go just wide after linking with Leahy and Court, and Ryan Hanson had an effort cleared off the line following a long ball from Taylor Foran. Braintree's best chance of the half came in stoppage time, when Anisius Lewis struck the crossbar after goalkeeper Lenny Holden had spilled a Matthews free-kick.

Holden made an early second-half save from George Evans before Braintree finally broke through on 64 minutes, Matthews heading in Jet Dyer's cross after Maidstone failed to clear. Substitute Tariq Uwakwe tested the Braintree goalkeeper as Maidstone pushed for an equaliser, but Matthews doubled the lead from the penalty spot on 79 minutes after Holden brought down Lewis. Maidstone got a lifeline of their own deep into stoppage time: with five of nine added minutes played, referee Robert Claussen awarded a penalty for a foul on Leahy, who scored it himself - after Maidstone had already felt they should have had an earlier penalty of their own for a challenge on Dermi Lusala.

The run had taken Craig Fagan's side clear at the top of the table, including the previous Tuesday's derby win over Tonbridge Angels - Alfie Tuck, replacing Alex Stepien-Iwumene, was Fagan's only change from that game - so this is a first real dent in their form. Maidstone remain top of National League South for now, but the gap at the summit will be narrower after this result. Source: maidstoneunited.co.uk