Maidstone’s National South play-off bid took another hit after losing at home to Bath on Tuesday night.

Frankie Artus gave City a half-time lead and Sam Pearson wrapped up the points in stoppage time, while Justin Amaluzor hit the post for the Stones when they were a goal down.

United remain four points off the play-offs in ninth place but now have only game in hand on seventh-placed Dartford.

The Stones made two changes to the side beaten at Chippenham on Saturday with Jake Cole back in goal for the injured Chris Lewington and Ryan Johnson replacing Sam Corne in a switch to 3-5-2.

Maidstone started brightly enough, Amaluzor and Saidou Khan, after a great run, sending a couple of inviting balls across the six-yard box.

Bath were typically easy on the eye, knocking the ball about nicely and they took the lead in the 16th minute.

Play was spread wide to Pearson on the right and he moved infield and fed Adam Mann before Artus’ deflected 20-yard strike looped over Cole.

Maidstone struggled to carve out anything clear-cut in response, Amaluzor with a couple of deflected strikes which went behind for corners, with one at the end of the half particularly close.

Ibby Akanbi’s low drive was comfortably saved by Ryan Clarke while City defender Alex Hartridge almost lifted the ball into his own net while trying to clear.

In added time, Khan’s shot was blocked after an Akanbi cross was cut out near the penalty spot.

Akanbi’s shot on the turn was saved in a bright start to the second half but it fizzled out and, for all their huff and puff, Maidstone didn’t look like scoring as the minutes ticked away.

Noah Chesmain lashed a first-time strike just wide after combining with Khan and Akanbi midway through the half but Bath were looking comfortable.

With Maidstone needing a goal, the crowd were surprised when leading scorer Akanbi made way for defender Lewis Knight. Knight went into the backline with Ross Marshall pushed forward.

Amaluzor hit the post with a shot out of nothing before a moment of controversy saw Maidstone awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box for a foul on Iffy Allen, with players convinced it should have been a penalty.

Bath wasted a golden chance to wrap up the points when the unmarked Tom Smith fired a loose ball tamely at Cole, who’d parried Mann’s initial effort.

But they did add a second in the third minute of added time with a cool finish from Pearson.

Maidstone: Cole, Hoyte, Marshall, Elokobi, Johnson, Chesmain, Temelci (Allen 75mins), Khan, Boucaud, Amaluzor, Akanbi (Knight 72mins). Subs not used: Gilbert, Olutade, Ribbins.

Attendance: 1,450 (23 away).

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