Maidstone United struggling to find practice facilities during the lengthy cold snap, played a behind close doors friendly against Ryman League Division 1 South side Croydon Athletic at the Beckham Centre in Greenwich on Wednesday night.

Joint-bosses Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume arranged the game with opposite numbers, former Gillingham pair Tim O'Shea and Neil Smith,who played for Stones earlier this season.

Hume said: “It was a proper game, and proved a very good work-out and we involved all the fringe players. It’s a fantastic facility, and the cost was split between the two clubs.”

Maidstone haven't played a home game for more than a month, and prospects for this weekend's Ryman League Premier Division game against Boreham Wood are already looking gloomy.