Whyteleafe 2 Maidstone United 2

GOALS either side of half-time from Ryan Royston earned Maidstone United a precious point at Whyteleafe on Good Friday.

The Ryman League Division 1 South leaders looked to be heading for their second defeat in three games as they slid to a 2-0 deficit, but Royston's interventions extended their lead at the top of the table to three points, with five games to play.

The Stones were caught cold after just four minutes, when the Surrey side's Robert Smith scored with a near post header.

On a bone-dry and uneven pitch, Maidstone struggled to produce any coherent football and five minutes from half-time they were shocked when Sean Rivers punished some hesitant defending to drive in Whyteleafe's second goal.

But the visitors grabbed themselves a lifeline two minutes into first-half injury time, when an unmarked Royston headed in a typically long Aaron Lacy throw-in.

Maidstone's not-so-secret weapon was deployed to decisive effect seven minutes after the restart, when Lacy launched another missile. The ball was deflected to Royston, who volleyed Maidstone level.

With over half an hour left to play Maidstone were fancied to grab a winner, but they were indebted to keeper Pat Mullin for a vital block from Ryan Rummery in the final ten minutes.

In injury time Royston came desperately close to his second hat-trick of the season when his goalbound shot hit a divot and bounced into Leafe keeper Danny Coote's chest.

* Keep up to date with all the Stones news every week in the Kent Messenger.