Maidstone slumped to defeat at home to National League South new boys Horsham.

They barely created a chance after the first 10 minutes and ended up well beaten as the Hornets picked up their first away win of the season.

Rhys Murphy and Reece Meekums gave the visitors a two-goal lead at the break and former Stones loanee Greg Luer clinched victory with a late third.

That’s nine goals conceded in their past three games for United.

Maidstone made a promising start as they looked to bounce back from their first defeat of the season, the 3-0 loss at Weston on Tuesday night, but couldn’t maintain it.

Deon Moore, one of two changes, set up an early opening for John Gilbert, whose effort was blocked.

A big chance followed just past the 10-minute mark as Gilbert crossed for Moore but the Stones striker headed over when well-placed at the back post.

Three Horsham players went down in the opening 20 minutes, leading to a stop-start affair, and while Maidstone had plenty of possession across the defence, it was all a bit slow and not the front-foot football manager George Elokobi craves.

The well-organised Hornets began to fancy their chances and, after Meekums went close, the visitors took a 38th-minute lead.

Leone Gravata was the provider down the right, playing in Murphy, who dinked the ball over Nathan Harness.

Horsham doubled their lead in the eighth of nine added minutes at the end of the first half.

It was a poor goal to concede as Charlie Hester-Cook was allowed to run through midfield unopposed before feeding Gravata, whose cross was turned in by Meekums.

Maidstone introduced Riley Court for Hamblin at the break and new signing Teo Kurtaran soon followed in place of TJ Bramble as Elokobi shuffled his pack.

Gravata tested Harness after exchanging passes with Hester-Cook in a swift counter-attack and that was the concern for Maidstone, that they could get picked off while pushing to get back into the game.

The hosts were looking short on ideas and only alert goalkeeping from Harness, coming way out of his area to thwart Meekums, prevented them falling further behind.

Horsham were celebrating a third, though, as they killed off the game with 10 minutes remaining.

Ex-Stones loanee Luer broke into the box and prodded home after the ball came back to him off a combination of Stones defenders George Fowler and Sam Oguntayo.

Maidstone: Harness, Sesay, Fowler, Agbontohoma (Oguntayo 60mins), Hamblin (Court 46mins), Corne, Bramble (Kurtaran 53mins), Gilbert (Carvalho 68mins), Golding (Redfearn 60mins), Moore, Tanga. Subs not used: Holden, Casey.

Horsham: Carey, Elliott, Sparks, Hester-Cook (Rodrigues 66mins), Hammond, Murphy (Fenelon 66mins), Brivio (Strange 9mins), Agyemang, Meekums, Harding, Gravata (Luer 59mins). Subs not used: Barker, Roberts, Hammond.

Referee: Craig Barnett.

Attendance: 2,313.