Maidstone advanced in the FA Trophy on their return to action.

Second-half goals from Gavin Hoyte and substitute Ibrahim Olutade took them past Poole and set up a third-round tie at home to Frome.

It was Maidstone’s first game since the 2-2 draw at Dorking on December 1, with the original fixture postponed due to positive Covid tests in the Stones camp.

United only returned to training on Thursday but made a fast start, created several chances and largely controlled the first half.

They popped the ball about nicely with Sam Corne picking up possession in midfield and dictating the play.

George Porter and Justin Amaluzor saw a lot of the ball as Maidstone got at their unbeaten Southern League opponents and Hoyte swung over several nice crosses getting forward from full-back.

The Stones had a big chance inside five minutes with Joan Luque’s cut-back met by Amaluzor whose effort hit keeper Mark Childs’ legs.

Luque’s dipping free-kick was pushed over, Porter fired wide on the turn and, then Childs made an excellent reaction save after Ibby Akanbi met Hoyte’s ball at the near post.

Seconds after that, Poole, who had a couple of decent breaks, might have taken the lead when Luke Pardoe got in behind the defence but dragged wide.

Amaluzor tested Childs with a decent strike from the edge of the box after Corne and Porter combined, Corne had a chance after a well-timed run from midfield into the box and the half ended with Amaluzor’s blocked shot from Hoyte’s latest cross.

A slack pass presented Poole with possession early in the second half and they almost made it count with Pardoe finding Ben Greenwood who brought a good save from Chris Lewington at his near post.

Maidstone took the lead in the 61st minute with a lovely goal as Porter found Amaluzor whose lay-off was thumped home by Hoyte breaking into the box from full-back.

Substitute Christie Pattisson almost set up a goal from his first touch when a ball across the face of goal found Akanbi but his strike was blocked.

Maidstone soon had their second, though, with Olutade scoring just two minutes after his introduction.

He was involved in the build-up, releasing Kreshnic Krasniqi before getting himself in the box to convert the return pass as the Stones went 2-0 up in the 79th minute.

Another substitute, Zihni Temelci, hit the inside of the post in added time from Pattisson’s pass.

Maidstone: Lewington, Hoyte, Ellul, Elokobi, Chesmain, Corne, Krasniqi, Amaluzor (Pattisson 69mins), Porter (Temelci 86misn), Luque, Akanbi (Olutade 77mins). Subs not used: Constable, Gench, Agboola, Odusanya.

Referee: Tom Danaher.

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