Maidstone’s troubles go on after losing to a disputed goal at Boreham Wood.

Angelo Balanta scored the Wood’s 36th-minute winner but United were adamant he was offside.

It came moments after Lee Worgan saved a Bruno Andrade penalty.

United, now 16 games without a victory in the National League, finished with 10 men after skipper Stuart Lewis was sent off for two bookings.

Maidstone made five changes to the side beaten by Barrow on Saturday and switched to a 3-5-2 formation.

Alex Finney, Will De Havilland and Dean Beckwith formed the back three, Seth Twumasi returned at left-wing-back and Delano Sam-Yorke was brought back in up front.

The new-look back three also allowed Jay Saunders to push Alex Wynter into a defensive midfield role.

United’s change in system and personnel meant they sacrificed a bit of creativity in order to go more solid, such was the need to stop giving goals away.

It meant were limited in terms of chances but the principal aim was to be hard to break down - and they were with Finney, sweeper Beckwith and De Havilland largely untroubled.

Twumasi saw a cross from Lewis taken off his head when poised to pounce in the six-yard box while Wynter had a shot blocked but there was little action in either box until the Wood were awarded a 35th-minute penalty.

De Havilland was the man harshly penalised for a challenge on Morgan Ferrier but Worgan got down low to his left to save Andrade’s spot-kick.

Seconds later, though, the hosts were in front in controversial circumstances.

Alex Davey hurled in a long throw and after Worgan parried from David Stephens, United were convinced Balanta’s follow-up should have been ruled out for offside.

Worgan was fuming while Lewis and Twumasi talked their way into referee Adam Penwell’s book.

Maidstone’s clearest opening came just before the hour when Sam-Yorke worked the ball to Jai Reason on the edge of the area but his shot rolled narrowly wide.

United’s task got harder when Lewis was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Mark Ricketts in the 71st minute.

It may have been a foul but it was disappointing to hear Wood manager Luke Garrard instructing his players to get round the referee and encourage another card.

Worgan got down sharply at his near post to deny Andrade as Boreham Wood went for a second.

Josh Hare’s header at the other end had Boreham Wood worried but they got the ball away.

Maidstone: Worgan, Hare, De Havilland, Beckwith, Finney, Twumasi, Wynter (Paxman 63mins), Lewis, Reason (Osei 90mins), Sam-Yorke (Loza 78mins), Lafayette. Subs not used: Prestedge, Anderson.

Attendance: