John Still’s pre-match concerns proved unfounded as Maidstone closed in on the National South play-off places.

The Stones are four points behind seventh-placed Dartford, with three games in hand, after beating Braintree 1-0 at home on Saturday.

It was their first match in a fortnight, following postponements at Tonbridge and Billericay, but the Stones showed no signs of rustiness.

Head of football Still said: “I was a bit worried we might lack of a bit of momentum when we started the game but we didn’t and that’s every credit to all of us because of our training sessions.

“So let’s look forward and take the next game and try and cement a place in that top seven.”

Maidstone were well on top at the Gallagher, carving out a series of chances in a dominant first-half performance.

Justin Amaluzor’s classy strike - his second successive winner - gave them the points and while Braintree were a bit more involved after the break, they caused few problems.

Still said: “First half I thought we played really well and we should have put the game out of sight.

“When you get games like that, they can get a bit tense second half. I think Chris Lewington’s had one save to make but we never made the best of our chances.

“That middle 15 minutes of the second half I think they pushed two up, went a bit longer, stretched the game a little bit but never really bothered us.

"The last two games, Oxford and this one, we’ve won both 1-0, convincingly, but not scored enough goals.

“I think that’s the time when we look and with the greatest of respect, we a miss Matt McClure who’s a natural finisher, but we’ve worked hard.

"It was a terrific goal from Justin. In the first half he was a constant threat down the right.”

Andre Boucaud looked the part once again in midfield, with Still hailing his influence.

“Terrific,” said the Stones boss. “We’ve had to slightly change the way we play but I was comfortable with that because I’ve had Andre twice before and he can make the team play and he does, he’s so clever with the ball.

"We’ve still got to do some work with him but he’s made an enormous difference. He’s such a controlled player.”

• Maidstone 1-0 Braintree

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