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Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders on 1-1 draw with Guiseley

Jay Saunders said Maidstone's game against Guiseley was horrible to watch.

The Stones boss put that down to the visitors' approach and wasn't about to criticise his players after they conceded an injury-time penalty in a 1-1 draw.

United were heading back into the National League top five after Zavon Hines' early goal but Frank Mulhern's late spot-kick, following a challenge by Reece Prestedge, saw Paul Cox's strugglers leave with a point.

Frustration for Maidstone boss Jay Saunders Picture: Gary Browne
Frustration for Maidstone boss Jay Saunders Picture: Gary Browne

Saunders, whose side are now ninth, said: "The only way they were going to get something out of the game was from a set-piece.

"I don't there's a lot of contact but the minute he goes down the ref's always going to give it.

"It's disappointing because at that point you think you've done the hard work and the game's won but it wasn't.

"Again, maybe the game should be put to bed but they're a big side, they do what they do, they smash it up there as big as they can and try and make life hard for you, and I get that.

"It's frustrating. Was it a great game? No, it wasn't, it was horrible to watch but people don't realise how hard it is against Guiseley, against Paul Cox's sides.

Zavon Hines gives Maidstone the lead Picture: Gary Browne
Zavon Hines gives Maidstone the lead Picture: Gary Browne

"You can see, they're a big side, they're constantly trying to turn you and you have to stand up and defend and, to be fair, for 89 minutes we've done that but just that little moment at the end, we've switched off.

"I don't know if Reece really needs to make the contact, he says there wasn't a lot of contact but it's been given."

Maidstone lost Magnus Okuonghae early in the first half, with Saunders confirming the centre-half had aggravated his hip after landing awkwardly from a header.

QPR loanee Alex Finney came on and took his chance to impress.

Saunders said: "I thought he was excellent. It's difficult. He's been waiting for his chance, he's been training well, his attitude's been spot on.

"He's a young lad who won his headers, he talked very well.

"Hopefully Mags isn't too bad but if he is we've got that advantage of having Finney in."

Read the match report from Maidstone's 1-1 draw with Guiseley

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