FA Cup stars Maidstone beat runaway leaders Yeovil on their return to National League South action.

Mo Faal and Matt Rush - back in the starting XI having been cup-tied at Ipswich last weekend - scored first-half goals as United took control.

The Glovers pulled one back through substitute Dylan Morgan but the hosts were good value for the points after a really bright team performance.

Maidstone made a fast start at the Gallagher, taking the game to an away side who’d lost only three matches all season.

There wasn’t a hint of an FA Cup hangover as George Elokobi’s men got after the league leaders, thoroughly deserving their two-goal lead at the break.

The opener came in the 12th minute following a cynical foul on Rush by Jake Wannell on the edge of the box which cost the Yeovil defender a yellow card.

Sam Corne left the free-kick to Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong whose cross was met by Reiss Greenidge and while keeper Joe Day got a touch, Faal stabbed home the loose ball.

Lucas Covolan, who gave fans a boost on Friday by extending his contract to the end of the season, saved well after Jordan Young played in Frank Nouble for Yeovil’s first sight on goal.

Moments later, in the 20th minute, Maidstone doubled their lead with Lamar Reynolds’ cross headed home by Rush.

Corne fired narrowly over and a good tackle denied Faal, who might have squared, before Jay Foulston threatened from distance for the visitors.

A clever free-kick from Corne proved slightly too clever, with Liam Sole caught offside before thumping home, while Faal’s strike was blocked as Maidstone finished the half on top.

Rush remained a thorn in Yeovil’s side after the break with his control and touch causing problems.

And United were happy to let the Glovers knock the ball across their backline - exactly where they wanted them and very much a case of possession for the sake of it without going anywhere.

There was a half-chance for the Stones when Sole won the ball and launched a swift counter-attack before teeing up substitute Jephte Tanga, who fired over.

Tanga was involved again soon after, finding Sam Bone, who turned neatly before prodding wide.

Yeovil were back in business, though, when they pulled a goal back in the 76th minute.

Nouble picked out the run of substitute Morgan and his first-time strike from the edge of the box found the bottom corner.

Tanga stung Day’s fingertips after collecting Chi Ezennolim’s pass as Maidstone looked to restore their two-goal cushion, with Greenidge heading wide from the resultant corner.

There were ugly scenes in added time as Yeovil fans tried to cross the Genco Stand segregation line, with stewards and security stepping in.

And there was an almost an equaliser at the death with Wannell’s fierce strike blocked in a crowded area.

Maidstone: Covolan, Brown, Fowler, Greenidge, Sole (Ezennolim 77mins), Bone, Corne, Berkeley-Agyepong (Tanga 61mins), Reynolds, Rush, Faal (Duku 64mins). Subs not used: Earle, Gurung.

Yeovil: Day, Foulston, Williams, Whittle, Wannell, Worthington, Blu Lo-Everton, Nouble, Pearson (Thomas 65mins), Owers (Morgan 57mins), Young (Fisher 89mins. Subs not used: Dawes, Stevens.

Referee: Dane McCarrick.

Attendance: 3,119 (252 away).