Jay Saunders felt Maidstone had leaders Macclesfield on the ropes but ultimately was satisfied with a point.

United took the game to the Silkmen in an impressive first-half showing that saw them lead through Alex Wynter.

But the Silkmen responded impressively in the second half and appeared to be heading five points clear in the National League after Danny Whitaker’s tap-in and an Elliott Durrell wonder goal put them 2-1 up.

United, boosted by back-to-back wins, kept going and scored an 83rd-minute equaliser through Ross Lafayette.

The draw edged them seven points clear of the bottom four in 16th place with only eight games left.

Saunders said: “I thought we were excellent in the first half but I went in at half-time and said, ‘I’m going to be a critical of you here, it was a good performance but you have to take your chances because it comes back to haunt you.’

“Especially against very good sides, which Macclesfield are.

“You’re not top of the table at this stage of the season for any other reason than you’re a good side, or the best in the league.

“I thought we had them on the ropes to be honest for a large part of the first half.

“We had some really good chances but couldn’t get that second goal and that’s my one thing at the moment, we’re not scoring enough goals.

“I’m delighted we showed the character to come back into it at 2-1 down because probably a month ago we’d have gone on to lose that game.

“They were the better side second half and we were the better side first half.

“It’s frustrating because in an ideal world you’d get the three points and move on but a four-point return from the top two’s not bad.”

Saunders thought Maidstone looked tired in the second half after big efforts against Torquay and second-placed Sutton but they didn't give up.

The boss said: “The boys have given me a lot over the last few weeks, Torquay, Sutton and then this today and I thought second half maybe that told a little bit.

“But again there were plenty of positives, plenty of things I’m pleased with and the squad’s looking stronger.

“There’s good options, there’s a few who missed out tonight and all in all it’s a good point.”

Read the match report from Maidstone's 2-2 draw with Macclesfield