A goal at the end of either half saw Maidstone beaten at play-off hopefuls Eastleigh.

Chris Zebroski put the hosts in front just before the break and man-of-the-match Mark Yeates confirmed victory with a late second.

Dover’s 1-1 draw with Boreham Wood means the Stones are now 11 points from safety in the National League.

Eastleigh dominated first-half possession without really threatening against a Stones side who kept their shape well.

Much of the Spitfires’ play went through the classy Yeates and the hosts regularly looked to get Stones old boy Josh Hare in up the right.

Maidstone saw little ball in the visitors’ half, unable to get any service to lone striker Jake Embery, who had a task on his hands against a comfortable back three.

As much of the ball as Eastleigh enjoyed it took them 26 minutes to muster a shot on goal, Chris Lewington getting down well to deny Reda Johnson in a crowded penalty box following a free-kick from the right.

Dan Wishart fired well wide with Maidstone’s only attempt of the half after intercepting a ball and continuing his run to the edge of the box.

But just when it looked as though the half would finish goalless, Eastleigh went in front in the 43rd minute.

It came from a left-wing cross with Paul McCallum winning the header and Zebroski hooking home from inside the six-yard box.

Lewington made a good save from Oscar Gobern’s 30-yard strike early in the second half.

It wasn’t long before Maidstone introduced Justin Amaluzor and he had a strong penalty shout waved away after appearing to be clipped just inside the box.

Simon Walton made his point on the touchline but the fourth official took exception and the Stones player-coach was booked.

To rub salt in the wound, Amaluzor tumbled over Cavaghn Miley in the box minutes later and was booked for diving.

Maidstone were more involved going forward, with Elliott Romain heading wide from Shaun Donnellan’s cross, while Amaluzor kept looking to run at the home defence.

Eastleigh substitute Ben Williamson had the ball in the net from Yeates’ pass but the linesman flagged for offside.

The pair combined again moments later, in the 85th minute, only this time it counted as Williamson fed Yeates who gave Lewington no chance from the edge of the box.

Maidstone: Lewington, S Donnellan, De Havilland, Davies, Wishart, Phillips (Muldoon 36mins), Powell, Taylor, Romain, Embery (Amaluzor 54mins), Turgott. Subs not used: Henry, Meredith, L Donnellan. Attendance: 1,642 (42 away).