Caretaker managers Tristan Lewis and Simon Walton made the perfect start as Maidstone ended a five-match losing streak by winning at Boreham Wood.

The pair, in charge after Harry Wheeler’s departure, saw Jake Cassidy’s early header earn a crucial away win in United’s fight for National League survival.

Maidstone played the last 20 minutes or so with 10 men after Dan Wishart was controversially sent off and victory was confirmed when Ross Worner saved a late Kieran Murtagh penalty.

Will De Havilland was restored to the starting XI and made captain by the caretaker management team.

Considering he was out of the squad a week ago, it was quite a statement and one that made sense.

Maidstone lined up 4-2-3-1 and led in just the seventh minute.

Jack Powell, who perhaps more than anyone looked a different player, won the ball in the middle and it eventually ended up with George McLennan wide left.

A perfect cross from the full-back was met by a towering Cassidy header and Maidstone were in front.

The encouragement from Lewis and Walton on the touchline was noticeable, even for simple things like winning a header, and it’s those little touches that help a side’s confidence.

At one point early in the first half, as Maidstone broke into the Wood half, Lewis bellowed ‘go on, enjoy yourselves’ - and it was great to hear.

And when there was a mistake it was ‘unlucky, good idea.’

The commitment was clear as Boreham Wood enjoyed a good spell, with United putting in challenges and working hard to restrict them.

David Stephens and former Stones man Manny Parry should have done better with headers from crosses but the Wood mustered little else until first-half injury time when Worner got down well to deny Gozie Ugwu.

At the other end, Powell’s shot was held by Ryan Huddart at the second attempt and Wishart blazed over following a cross from Jack Paxman.

McLennan headed into his own net at the start of the second half but the flag was already up, while Justin Shaibu’s cross just needed a touch as Wood piled on early pressure.

Outstanding challenges from Ollie Muldoon and Wishart pleased the away fans as the half wore on.

But Wishart was sent off with just under 20 minutes left after handbags in the corner.

There looked nothing in it but the Stones were down to 10.

Wood should have levelled when Ugwu sent a free header wide from a corner.

And they had a penalty in the 82nd minute when Worner, coming to punch a high ball, was adjudged to have taken out Shaibu.

Murtagh went for the bottom corner but Worner made a superb low save with Stones players feeling justice had been done.

The Wood push continued and Stephens headed wide when he should have hit the target.

Maidstone: Worner, Phillips, De Havilland, Wassmer, McLennan, Muldoon, Tajbakhsh (Edobor 46mins), Paxman (Romain 79mins), Powell, Wishart, Cassidy. Subs not used: Strizovic, Robinson, Richards. Attendance: 630 (210 away).