Shamir Mullings struck again as Maidstone beat Barrow at the Gallagher Stadium.

Mullings was handed a start after scoring from the bench against Leyton Orient on Tuesday night.

And it was his early header that gave the Stones their second National League win of the season after back-to-back defeats.

Mullings - one of three changes - put Maidstone in front in the just the sixth minute.

A nice move around the edge of the box saw Stuart Lewis combine with Jack Paxman and Blair Turgott before feeding Michee Efete whose cross was met by a downward header.

Maidstone had to ride their luck at times as Barrow enjoyed plenty of possession, forcing a number of throw-ins and corners.

It wasn’t always pretty as United battled to clear their lines but they managed to stay in front as the visitors enjoyed the best of the first half.

Plenty of Barrow’s play went through John Rooney in midfield and he certainly made them tick.

He had a couple of good chances, too, firing over after Nathan Waterston squared, then bending the ball inches wide after Lewis dispossessed Waterston on the edge of the area.

Barrow’s best chance arrived 10 minutes before the break with Jack Hindle racing through after a mistake by Efete but he sent the ball past the far post.

Maidstone operated mainly on the break in the first half and would have been in several times but for the final pass.

When they did get it right they had a golden chance to double their lead as Andre Coker played a one-two with Mullings and sent Turgott through with a lovely little pass on the edge of the area.

The Stones winger was onside but hit keeper Andrew Firth.

Paxman found himself clear just after the break with Kyle Jameson fortunate to get away with his challenge on the edge of the box.

Moments later, Lewis’ terrific left-foot volley, after a Turgott corner was cleared to the edge of the box, was well saved by Firth.

And with Stones more on the front foot, Paxman wasted a one-on-one with the Barrow keeper and had another effort blocked after Mullings fed Turgott down the right.

Rooney’s deflected strike hit the side-netting at the other end but another good chance fell to the Stones when Lewis released Turgott who fired wide of the near post.

Maidstone: Worgan, Efete, De Havilland, Wynter, Twumasi, Muldoon, Lewis, Paxman (Phillips 73mins), Turgott, Mullings (Quigley 83mins), Coker (Loza 76mins). Subs not used: McLennan, Funnell.

Attendance: 2,003 (60 away).