Maidstone’s winless run reached 17 games as their slide towards National League South continued at Maidenhead.

The Magpies were the last side United beat - a 3-2 win at the Gallagher at the end of November.

But a first-half double from Emile Acquah ensured there would be no repeat, with Regan Booty pulling a goal back late in the second half.

Seventeen games matches the Stones’ winless run of the 2017/18 National League season although back then their blistering early-season form meant safety was never seriously in doubt.

Maidstone made two changes to the side beaten on penalties by Barnet in the FA Trophy last weekend.

James Alabi came in up top following Jack Barham’s move to Aldershot, while Booty returned in midfield for the injured Roarie Deacon.

Maidstone started brightly at York Road, popping the ball about nicely in midfield, albeit without opening up the home defence.

Booty had his eye in, spreading the play nicely, and the visitors looked comfortably the better side in the first 15 minutes or so.

Maidenhead, who seemed happy to let Maidstone have the ball, grew into the game, with Sam Barratt and Reece Smith combining to good effect down the right.

The opener came from the opposite flank, though, as Maidenhead took the lead in the 23rd minute, with a cross from the left finished by Acquah a couple of yards out.

The Stones faded after their promising opening, with passes going astray and looking increasingly unlikely to trouble Alex Andre Jr, who barely touched the ball.

A second goal for the hosts followed in the 32nd minute.

There was a touch of good fortune about it as Dominic Osusanya’s attempted ball forward was charged down and fell kindly to Ashley Nathaniel-George, whose cross from the left presented Acquah with another simple finish.

Kane Ferdinand flashed a header over from a corner and saw a thumping first-time volley from the edge of the box miss by inches as Maidenhead threatened again.

Mamadou Jobe sent a near-post header over from Booty’s corner early in the second half - Maidstone's first genuine chance of the game.

Hot on the heels of that, Josh Shonibare fired wide after a decent run by Mark Marshall and then worked Andre Jr with a low strike from the edge of the box.

Like the early stages of the first half, Maidstone went on to have some reasonable possession.

Again, they never looked likely to unpick the home defence in open play but a set-piece got them back in the game in the 76th minute after Bivesh Guring was fouled on the edge of the box.

A well-worked free-kick paid dividends, with Booty rolling the ball to Odusanya before burying the return pass into the bottom corner.

Maidenhead went close to an instant reply, with ex-Stones defender Will De Havilland denied by the legs of Barden.

Maidenhead: Andre Jr, Asare, De Havilland, Barratt (McCoulsky 71mins), Nathaniel-George (Beckwith 90+4mins), Ferdinand, Acquah, Odutayo, Smith (Leathers 77mins), Massey, Adams. Subs not used: Upward, Eweka.

Maidstone: Barden, Fowler, Jobe, Bone, Binnon-Williams, Booty, Gurung, Odusanya, Shonibare, Alabi (Wanjau-Smith 61mins), Marshall (Berkoe 61mins). Subs not used: Mersin, Brown, Lawson.

Referee: Jacob Miles.

Attendance: 1,085.