Eastbourne Borough’s winning run came to an end after Maidstone United prevailed 3-1 at Gallagher Stadium.

George Alexander had drawn Borough level early in the second half, cancelling out Bivesh Gurung’s first half piledriver.

However, it was the hosts who would go on to win all three National League South points – with Antony Papadopoulos and then Aaron Blair striking before Yahya Bamba saw red late on for the Sports.

Adam Murray made one change from Saturday’s starting line up, with Pierce Bird returning from suspension to replace Dan Quick, who dropped to the bench.

After a scrappy opening few minutes, it was the Stones who went ahead after 8 minutes. Gurung intercepted a pass in midfield and from outside the area saw his strike fly beyond Joe Wright and into the top right corner.

The Sports looked for a response and grew into the game, as Courtney Clarke’s cross-field ball found Alexander who chested it down well but his low effort was deflected just wide of the bottom corner.

Jayden Davis then side-footed half a chance wide from the resulting corner, before Clarke lashed an effort over the bar.

Clarke then pounced on a loose pass from Charlie Seaman and closed in on the penalty area, but he pulled his shot wide of the post.

Maidstone went close to doubling their lead as half-time approached, with Greg Cundle firing just wide of the far corner before Bird deflected Blair’s effort on target over the bar.

But the Sports almost went into the break level when Kai Innocent fired in a low cross from the left looking for Alexander, but the outstretched leg of Temi Eweka deflected it just over his own crossbar.

However, Borough found the equaliser eight minutes into the second half. Bird’s free-kick from the left was cleared as far as Innocent, who lifted the ball back into the box and David Sesay headed it across to Alexander, whose stooping diving header found the back of the net.

The game then lacked any real fluidity as both teams looked to get on top, but it was the Stones who regained their advantage on 69 minutes. Cundle and Matt Bentley linked up on the left and found Papadopoulos in space on the edge of the area, and the Crawley Town loanee curled an effort into the bottom corner.

Maidstone went close to adding to their lead but Joe Wright saved well from George Fowler before Riley Court fired wide.

As time wore on Borough were still well in the game, and almost drew level as the clock ticked towards 90. Brad Barry’s ball forwards was headed down to substitute Alfie Pavey, who took the shot on from 25 yards but Alexis Andre Jr parried the ball away.

Six added minutes were indicated as Borough looked to pile forwards, but they were undone at the other end. A mistake from Wright allowed Blair to round the keeper outside the area to seal Borough’s fate.

The game then boiled over in the closing stages, with half time substitute Yahya Bamba seeing red whilst Barry, Papadopoulos and Sam Corne were all shown yellow cards following the altercation.

Not the night Borough would have wanted, but with games coming thick and fast they have the opportunity to put things right at Chesham on Saturday.