Ross Lafayette sent his old loan club packing as managerless Maidstone lost to Sutton.

Lafayette, who had a spell at the Gallagher last season, struck early to give the U’s victory.

It means back-to-back 1-0 defeats for Stones caretaker boss Steve Watt whose side did at least improve after a really poor first half.

Jamar Loza replaced the suspended Blair Turgott, Stuart Lewis returned after injury and Jordan Wynter came into the defence as Watt made three changes following Saturday’s defeat at Gateshead.

He also switched formation to 3-5-2 but Maidstone simply weren’t in the game in the first half.

They didn’t manage a single shot on goal as the U’s dominated.

The visitors moved the ball nicely and looked particularly strong in midfield, with the classy Josh Taylor pulling the strings.

Lee Worgan made a flying save from Craig Eastmond’s strike inside two minutes and Craig Brown fired over after Lafayette let the ball run from Josh Ayunuga’s pass.

A goal looked a matter of time and it arrived in the 10th minute with Aynuga’s cross turned home by Lafayette at the near post.

Harry Beautyman sent a header over soon after, Dan Wishart’s cross just needed a touch, while Wayne Brown might have made more of the ball falling his way.

A long run from Loza relieved the pressure and he was at it again at the end of the first half but the chance was snuffed out.

The Genco Stand were in great voice at the start of the second half and the Stones responded.

It gave them the lift they needed and Seth Nana Twumasi managed their first shot on goal after bringing the ball out of his own half, then Ollie Muldoon’s 20-yard cracker hit the crossbar and bounced down on the line.

It seemed a different game for a spell before settling down again midway through the half.

It looked as though Sutton had weathered the storm, they quietened the crowd again and started to enjoy decent possession once more.

It was a much-improved Maidstone performance, though, and back they came but without testing U’s keeper Jamie Butler.

Sutton should have a second in the last couple of minutes but Worgan saved well from Aaron Drinan.

Maidstone: Worgan, Efete, De Havilland, Wynter (Paxman 82mins), Finney, Twumasi, Muldoon, Lewis (Coker 82mins), Phillips, Loza, Mullings. Subs not used: McLennan, Funnell, Richards.

Attendance: 1,838.