Maidstone suffered a first defeat in six matches as surprise package Aveley continued their flying start to the season.

The Millers, playing in National League South after back-to-back promotions, took the points at the Gallagher Stadium thanks to Charlee Hughes’ second-half header.

They were good value for the win against a Stones side who rarely looked like scoring - with victory sending them top.

Sol Wanjau-Smith was handed a start following his impressive appearance as a second-half substitute at Weymouth.

He came on in for Ogo Obi in the only change to the side who twice came from behind to win 3-2 at the weekend.

Aveley arrived at the Gallagher with five wins from seven since promotion and fresh from beating league big guns Torquay 2-1.

They looked a side full of confidence from the off, largely controlling the first half.

The visitors had some big lads in their side but they could also play, looking assured in possession and moving the ball well from side to side to create crossing opportunities.

Lucas Covolan was equal to a stream of crosses and he also made three vital saves in a goalless first half.

The first was a flying stop after a long throw was partially cleared to Eduino Vaz on the edge of the box.

Soon after, he stuck out a foot to deny the dangerous Matt Rush.

And, late in the half, he was off his line well to thwart Kenny Aileru after George Fowler made a key initial challenge to delay his path to goal after the defence were opened up.

Maidstone struggled to get their front two of in-form Levi Amantchi and Wanjau-Smith into the game.

A long ball over the top from player-of-the-month Chi Ezennolim threatened to get Wanjau-Smith away but Jason Ring - booked in just the sixth minute - got back well to make the covering header.

Lamar Reynolds sent an early header from Ezennolim’s cross over, while Maidstone’s only other first-half opening saw Devonte Aransibia fire wide after being found in space by Liam Sole.

United made a better start to the second half, Conor Kelly and Sole combining neatly to set up Reynolds, whose shot was blocked.

But Aveley took a deserved lead nine minutes into the second half courtesy of Hughes’ glancing header into the corner from an inswinging cross.

The goal seemed to wake Maidstone up, immediately getting after the Aveley defence.

And they almost levelled when Amantchi’s close-range strike was blocked in the six-yard box, with Reynolds firing the loose ball over.

The initial burst fizzled out and Hughes saw a cheeky backheel blocked in the six-yard box by Raphe Brown as Aveley threatened a second.

Maidstone huffed and puffed but were looking short of ideas as the clock ran down.

Ezennolim looked the most likely to make something happen getting forward down the left, while Amantchi sent a header over from Sole’s 88th-minute cross.

Maidstone: Covolan, Brown, Fowler, Bone, Sole, Kelly, Aransibia, Reynolds (Obi 73mins), Ezennolim, Wanjau-Smith, Amantchi. Subs not used: Court, Earle, Hatton, Iandolo.

Aveley: North, Ring, Vaz, Odelusi, Davis, Gibbs, Rush (Hernandez 88mins), Kelly, Hughes, Benton (Kyei 90mins), Aileri. Subs not used: Witherspoon, Stephen, Ainsworth.

Referee: Eugene Robinson.

Attendance: 1,800.