Maidstone won an extraordinary nine-goal thriller against Hornchurch to keep their National League South play-off push on track.
The Stones raced into a three-goal lead inside 12 minutes through John Gilbert, Riley Court and Hamzad Kargbo.
Riley Court gives Maidstone a 2-0 lead against Hornchurch. Picture: Helen Cooper
Taylor Foran made it 4-2 to the hosts after Josh Rees and substitute Angelo Balanta replied.
But a crazy half ended level as further goals for Rees and Balanta stunned the Gallagher.
Skipper Sam Corne restored Maidstone’s lead early in the second half and this time they held on for a sixth successive home win and an eighth victory in their past 10 games.
The result keeps George Elokobi’s side bang in contention for a top-seven finish, while putting a big dent in Hornchurch’s title hopes.
A dominant start was rewarded as Maidstone took a sixth-minute lead.
Gilbert, having been involved in the build-up, pounced at the post after keeper Arthur Nasta failed to hold TJ Bramble’s strike from the edge of the box.
Maidstone celebrate after Hamzad Kargbo (No.23) scores the hosts’ third. Picture: Helen Cooper
Maidstone doubled their lead in the 10th minute.
Kargbo’s flick-on from Lenny Holden’s goal-kick released Court and he ran in on goal and finished superbly.
The afternoon got even better for United as Kargbo powered home a header from Court’s corner in the 12th minute.
And it could have been four midway through the half but Nasta denied Court in a one-on-one after a mistake in the visitors’ defence.
After a tactical reshuffle that saw the introduction of top scorer Balanta, Hornchurch launched their fightback in the 25th minute.
Ex-Gills midfielder Rees was the scorer, producing a smart finish inside the box from Balanta’s cross.
Delight for Taylor Foran after giving Maidstone a 4-2 lead. Picture: Helen Cooper
The Urchins made it 3-2 in the 32nd minute, Rees setting up Balanta this time after Maidstone failed to deal with Sam Ling’s long throw.
Maidstone restored their two-goal cushion two minutes later.
Kargbo helped the ball down the line and Bramble dispossessed Giles Phillips before laying on a tap-in for Foran – his first Stones goal.
But the game was out of control and that was never going to be the end of the first-half scoring.
Hornchurch had their third in the 42nd minute, with Rees bunding home after a corner.
And they levelled in the second minute of added time when Balanta struck again after a free-kick was curled in from the right.
Maidstone appeared to win the initial header but the ball fell to Balanta, who made no mistake.
Court went close from a free-kick at the start of the second hslf before United went back in front in the 58th minute.
Sam Corne takes the ball on before scoring Maidstone’s fifth. Picture: Helen Cooper
It was Court with the assist, teeing up skipper Corne, whose measured strike from the edge of the area found the bottom corner.
Substitute Jamie Yila had a big chance to add a sixth for Maidstone but didn’t get the connection quite right when meeting Court’s free-kick.
Stones keeper Lenny Holden denied Myles Weston an equaliser in the last 10 minutes after the ex-Ebbsfleet man cut inside from the right and went for goal.
And Rees was inches away from completing his hat-trick in added time.
Maidstone: Holden, Beeden (Sesay 70mins), Foran, Hamblin, Fowler, Corne, Bramble, Tanga, Court (Berkeley-Agyepong 75mins), Gilbert (Pattisson 63mins), Kargbo (Yila 63mins). Subs not used: Harness, Boruk, Mbogba.
Hornchurch: Nasta, Bond-Welch (Hare 62mins), Gibbs, Rees, Wraight, Pegrum (Weston 62mins), Phillips, Alexander (Hearn 59mins), Ling, Edwards (Balanta 22mins), Poleon (Sandat 66mins). Subs not used: Byrne, McQueen.
Referee: Adam Merchant.
Attendance: 2,341.
