Maidstone passed another early-season test in their victory over Billericay.

The Stones were facing a side who looked to be playing for what would have been a decent away draw.

But Hakan Hayrettin’s men finally broke them down to chalk up a third straight win and leave Ricay looking for their first point of the new season.

The visitors showed some ambition after falling behind to Alfie Pavey’s second-half penalty but it finished 1-0 as United kept pace with Dartford in the early National South standings.

Hayrettin said: “They’re a good team - I actually spoke to four of their players in the summer.

“Joe Felix was one, Kurtis Cumberbatch, Norman Wabo, these are good players.

“They were resilient, they were strong, they made it difficult for us, which they will do.

“We had to break them down in the end and we did.

“It’s about chipping away, we did that, and got the result, and we’re happy with a clean sheet.

“Sometimes you can’t play the free-flowing football we want because people are going to come here and set their stall out and defend. It’s our job to break them down.”

Hayrettin felt Maidstone had a responsibility to get the crowd going after a slow first half.

He made the point at the break and the backing was there to feed off as they pressed for a winner.

He said: “The players have got to realise, and I told them at half-time, you either get the crowd on your side or you don’t.

“The first-half performance our crowd was very quiet because they couldn’t see us move the ball quick enough and have an end product. Second half we were better.

“They changed their shape, they played a diamond in the second half, we had to combat that and we know in games like this, when you go 1-0 up it’s always going to be tight.

“They’re going to push and throw the kitchen sink at you and we did well.

“I’m happy we kept a clean sheet, Tom Hadler’s made two saves.”

Pavey came off the bench to score for the second week running after replacing Roarie Deacon.

He went up top with Christie Pattisson moving out wide to fill Deacon’s spot on the right.

Pattisson came inside to win the penalty, converted by Pavey.

“We thought maybe we could get Christie out there with his pace and he got the penalty,” said Hayrettin.

“Up until that point we came out second half and put them on the back foot but really, first half, for all the play we had, we didn’t move the ball as quick as we should have.

"But if we can win like that and keep a clean sheet, I’m happy.”

• Report: Maidstone 1-0 Billericay

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