It was a tale of two penalties as Maidstone lost 1-0 at home to Chelmsford in National League South on Bank Holiday Monday.

City scored a controversial spot-kick, awarded against Tom Mills, while Alex Akrofi missed for United after the break.

The cut over his eye sustained in a clash of heads at Eastbourne saw Steve Watt make way for Jamie Coyle as one of four changes.

Joe Healy returned in place of Simon Johnson, with Jack Paxman in for Matt Bodkin and Bobby-Joe Taylor picked ahead of Mitchell Pinnock.

Adam Birchall was named on the bench only hours after signing on loan from Bromley for the season.

The linesman’s flag denied Billy Bricknell a goal inside a minute of his return to the Gallagher Stadium.

For the Stones, Paxman’s drive went just wide when found by Healy on the edge of the box, then Akrofi went close with a cracking effort after May flicked on Lee Worgan’s clearance.

United had Alex Brown, Jack Paxman and Jay May booked for challenges in quick succession as the crowd grew increasingly frustrated with referee Lloyd Wood.

They had every right to feel hard done by when Chelmsford were awarded a controversial 38th-minute penalty.

Mills appeared to time his slide tackle on City’s Hugo Skepelhorn perfectly but Wood pointed to the spot and Sawyer sent Worgan the wrong way.

Stones, having changed shape, were handed a route back into the game 10 minutes into the second half when Brown was chopped down by Harry Morgan after May’s effort was blocked on the line.

But Akrofi, who’d done brilliantly to keep the ball alive for May’s strike, hit the post from the spot.

Maidstone brought on Frannie Collin and Birchall, for his debut, midway through the second half.

They were followed by Matt Bodkin, who found himself through on goal seconds after coming on but Mark Haines took the ball off his toe.

Callum Driver’s 30-yard strike from Coyle’s pass flashed wide with Christian Dibble rooted to his spot as Stones pushed hard.

Birchall fired over on the turn, Bodkin had a shot blocked and Mills saw an optimistic penalty claim turned down as time ran out on Stones.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Parry, Brown (Bodkin 76mins), Paxman, Healy, May (Collin 64mins), Akrofi, Taylor (Birchall 65mins). Subs not used: Pinnock, Johnson.

Attendance: 2,117.