Maidstone gained a unprecedented nine-goal thriller towards Hornchurch to maintain their National League South play-off push on monitor.
The Stones raced right into a three-goal lead inside 12 minutes by way of John Gilbert, Riley Court and Hamzad Kargbo.
Taylor Foran made it 4-2 to the hosts after Josh Rees and substitute Angelo Balanta replied.
But a loopy half ended degree as additional targets for Rees and Balanta shocked the Gallagher.
Skipper Sam Corne restored Maidstone’s lead early in the second half and this time they held on for a sixth successive residence win and an eighth victory in their previous 10 video games.
The outcome retains George Elokobi’s aspect bang in rivalry for a top-seven end, whereas placing a giant dent in Hornchurch’s title hopes.
A dominant begin was rewarded as Maidstone took a sixth-minute lead.
Gilbert, having been concerned in the build-up, pounced on the submit after keeper Arthur Nasta failed to carry TJ Bramble’s strike from the sting of the field.
Maidstone doubled their lead in the tenth minute.
Kargbo’s flick-on from Lenny Holden’s goal-kick launched Court and he ran in on purpose and completed fantastically.
The afternoon received even higher for United as Kargbo powered residence a header from Court’s nook in the twelfth minute.
And it may have been 4 halfway by way of the half however Nasta denied Court in a one-on-one after a mistake in the guests’ defence.
After a tactical reshuffle that noticed the introduction of high scorer Balanta, Hornchurch launched their fightback in the twenty fifth minute.
Ex-Gills midfielder Rees was the scorer, producing a wise end contained in the field from Balanta’s cross.
The Urchins made it 3-2 in the thirty second minute, Rees organising Balanta this time after Maidstone didn’t cope with Sam Ling’s lengthy throw.
Maidstone restored their two-goal cushion two minutes later.
Kargbo helped the ball down the road and Bramble dispossessed Giles Phillips earlier than laying on a tap-in for Foran – his first Stones purpose.
But the sport was uncontrolled and that was by no means going to be the top of the first-half scoring.
Hornchurch had their third in the forty second minute, with Rees bunding residence after a nook.
And they levelled in the second minute of added time when Balanta struck once more after a free-kick was curled in from the fitting.
Maidstone appeared to win the preliminary header however the ball fell to Balanta, who made no mistake.
Court went shut from a free-kick firstly of the second hslf earlier than United went again in entrance in the 58th minute.
It was Court with the help, teeing up skipper Corne, whose measured strike from the sting of the realm discovered the underside nook.
Substitute Jamie Yila had a giant likelihood so as to add a sixth for Maidstone however didn’t get the connection fairly proper when assembly Court’s free-kick.
Stones keeper Lenny Holden denied Myles Weston an equaliser in the final 10 minutes after the ex-Ebbsfleet man lower inside from the fitting and went for purpose.
And Rees was inches away from finishing 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.
