Maidstone bounce back from Ebbsfleet defeat with a 2–1 win over bottom club Slough

Sunday 1 November 2026 · By Victor Moulsham

Maidstone United beat Slough Town 2–1 at home on Saturday, Ryan Hanson scoring eight minutes from time, to follow up the midweek 3–1 home defeat by Ebbsfleet United. The attendance was 2,021, according to the BBC.

Ken Charles gave the Stones the lead in the 38th minute, firing home first time when a Slough clearance dropped to him, according to KentOnline. It was his fifth goal of the season. Reuben Shakpoke, a former Maidstone striker, levelled at the start of the second half (47th or 48th minute, depending on the source) after getting between Frankie Hvid and George Fowler.

Hanson’s winner came in the 82nd minute, when he stabbed in a diving header from substitute Stan Leech.

Boss Craig Fagan told KentOnline: “Win the game by any means – that’s what we had to do.” He said he was disappointed with the goal conceded after half-time and expects Slough to climb the table under their manager Steve McKimm.

There was bad news in defence. Taylor Foran went out with a hamstring injury and awaits a scan, so Fowler and Hvid started together in central defence for the first time this season, according to KentOnline. Maidstone also signed Noah Nzuzi on loan from Sutton, and he came on in the second half, according to the club.

The win leaves Maidstone second on 29 points from 15 games, having fallen from first to third after the defeat by Ebbsfleet on Tuesday. Truro City went top on Saturday by beating Ebbsfleet 3–0 and lead with 30 points from 14 games, so Maidstone are a point behind with one game more played. Ebbsfleet and Salisbury have 28 each. Only the champions are promoted automatically, and second to seventh go into the play-offs.

Maidstone have won nine, drawn two and lost four of their 15, scoring 26 goals, the seventh-most in the division, and conceding 18. Ebbsfleet, who won at Maidstone on Tuesday 27 October, have played two games fewer than the Stones. They have won four of eight at home, for 13 points, and five of seven away, for 16.

In midweek KentOnline spoke to Jayden Davis, who scored his first goal for the Stones against Ebbsfleet. “Whenever the manager needs me, I’m ready,” he said.

The next league game is at Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday 7 November, and Hemel are 20th on 15 points, the last safe place, after a 5–0 defeat at Billericay Town. Maidstone then host Maidenhead United in the FA Trophy second round on Saturday 14 November, a tie between two South clubs. Farnham Town are the visitors in the league on Saturday 21 November, followed by a trip to Chelmsford City on Monday 23 November.

Slough, the beaten side, are bottom on four points, 11 behind Hemel. The Hemel trip will show whether the response to Tuesday’s defeat carries on.