Maidstone ended their goal drought and losing streak with a well-deserved victory at Dagenham & Redbridge.

The Stones had lost four successive games in all competitions - all without scoring - before arriving at Victoria Road.

After almost six-and-a-half hours without a goal, Daggers defender Corey Panter turned Antony Papadopoulos’ cross into his own net to give Maidstone the lead.

Ashley Hemmings levelled with a goal out of nothing but Teo Kurtaran’s second-half cracker earned the points for the visitors.

Maidstone, refreshed after a week off, made a bright start and were good value for their one-goal lead.

But having conceded an equaliser against the run of play, they were fortunate not to trail at the break after the Daggers were controversially denied a penalty in added time.

Maidstone had the wind in their faces in the first half and at times it was like playing with a balloon.

The trick was to keep the ball on the deck and they did that to good effect with several good moves.

The work rate was there - always a good place to start when a team are on a bad run - in a committed display.

Left-back Sam Oguntayo bent an effort over, Deon Moore - back to his bustling self - hit the side-netting and John Gilbert brought out the best in keeper Sam Howes from a 20-yard free-kick that was heading for the top corner.

Gilbert clipped the bar from a tight angle after linking with Papadopoulos, making his first start since returning on loan, and it started to look as though a goal was a matter of time.

It finally arrived in the 27th minute although it came courtesy of Daggers defender Panter, who diverted Papadopoulos’ cross past Howes in front of the travelling fans.

Papadopoulos, however, deserves big credit for his work in the build-up, with his feet too quick for the Dagenham defence.

Dagenham, missing the suspended Andy Carroll, equalised in the 44th minute.

Rashawn Scott got away down left and his cross was finished at the near post by Hemmings.

Maidstone possibly got away with one in stoppage time when keeper Nathan Harness appeared to bring down Donovan Wilson as the Daggers forward raced in on goal.

To many people’s surprise, referee Tom Elismore let the game continue and Scott sent the loose ball into the side-netting.

Daggers boss Lee Bradbury was booked for his protests and Elismore copped plenty of stick from the home fans.

Maidstone made the most of the let-off by regaining the lead seven minutes into the second half.

And what a strike it was, too, as Kurtaran’s rocket from 25 yards, after bringing the ball forward from Sam Oguntayo’s pass, went in off the post for his first Stones goal.

New Stones loan signing Taylor Foran - a half-time replacement for George Fowler - came to the rescue after Oguntayo was dispossessed in a dangerous area.

Foran, a former Arsenal under-21 defender, has arrived from Bromley and looked confident and composed at the back.

Crucially, he was vocal, too.

Maidstone were defending their lead well against a Daggers side whose substitutions were making little difference.

The expected onslaught never materialised and, if anything, the Stones looked more likely to do something on the break.

Dagenham: Howes, Graham (Stephenson 83mins), Panter, Scott (Young 62mins), Nguessan (Lawless 75mins), Wilson, Haigh, Harrack, Broad (Rendall 63mins), Sidwell (Lusala 88mins), Hemmings. Subs not used: Nightingale.

Maidstone: Harness, Sesay, Fowler (Foran 46mins), Beeden, Oguntayo, Bramble, Kurtaran (Court 79mins), Papadopoulos (Lucan 82mins), Gilbert, Golding (Carvalho 67mins), Moore (Kargbo 86mins). Subs not used: Tanga, Holden.

Referee: Tom Elismore.

Attendance: 1,580 (278 away).

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