Debutant Temi Eweka scored an 89th-minute winner as Maidstone opened the National League South season with victory at St Albans.

The centre-half rose to meet Ben Brookes’ corner to give United the perfect start after a solid away display.

Stones boss George Elokobi named seven summer signings in his starting XI - although Charlie Seaman went off injured after half an hour - with four more new faces on the bench.

There was also a first league start for young defender Sam Smith, a star of last season’s Kent Senior Cup final victory over Ebbsfleet, and he let no one down.

St Albans, who did the double over Maidstone last season, had the best of a goalless first half at Clarence Park.

They looked sharper in possession and the more likely of the two sides to break the deadlock, without creating anything gilt-edged to worry the visitors’ back three.

Alexis Andre Jr was sharply off his line to deny the lively Ken Charles in the early stages, while George Fowler made successive blocks from Josh Castiglione and Gio Rasulo.

Maidstone’s first effort on goal came midway through the half with skipper Sam Corne’s 20-yard drive going inches over.

Charles fired over for the hosts shortly before the break and stung Andre Jr’s palms in added time after collecting Rasulo’s pass on the edge of the area.

United showed more attacking intent after the break and threatened before the hour mark with Shaq Coulthirst firing wide after Matt Bentley won possession in the box.

Bentley was involved again after the hour mark, combining with Aaron Blair although his shot on the stretch lacked power.

And when Riley Court, impressive as Seaman’s replacement, intercepted on the edge of the box and went for goal moments later, the momentum appeared to be building.

The Stones had their best chance of the match with 12 minutes left when new boy Jon Benton’s header released Aaron Blair but he clipped the ball wide of the far post.

They went close again when a curling 25-yard free-kick from Ben Brookes brushed the top of the net.

The winner followed in the 89th minute with Brookes’ inswinging corner headed home by Eweka in front of the travelling Stones fans.

St Albans: Johnson, James, Bowry, Longe-King, Charles (Jeffers 76mins), Payne, Banton (Smith 83mins), Castiglione (Akinola 71mins), Deadfield, Rasulo, Partington. Subs not used: Meakes, Gauthier.

Maidstone: Andre Jr, Eweka, Fowler, Smith, Seaman (Court 30mins), Corne, Higgs (Krasniqi 63mins), Brookes, Bentley (Fonkei 89mins), Blair, Coulthirst (Benton 63mins). Subs not used: Holden.

Referee: Dan England.

Attendance: 1,737.