Jay Saunders said Maidstone aren’t ready to compete with the likes of Forest Green after their 4-1 humbling.

The National League title favourites were a class apart in United’s heavy home defeat on Saturday.

And Stones boss Saunders said: “I thought they were a very good side, the best side we’ve had down here in a long time.

“To be honest, we’re not really in a position to be challenging teams like that at the moment. We’re not there yet as a side.

“It gives you some idea of where you’ve got to get to to be successful in this league or to even think of challenging in this league.”

Saunders felt his team were outclassed in midfield as Forest Green dominated at the Gallagher.

He was disappointed to see heads drop after the visitors - 2-1 up at half-time - added their third on 75 minutes.

A fourth soon followed as Mark Cooper’s side ran out easy winners.

But Saunders added: “We’re not judging ourselves against teams like this because Forest Green are a side that were close to promotion last year and they’ll be there or thereabouts this year.

“We’ve got to look at other teams that are more around us.

“They’re a good side and we’ll learn from it and move on but the lads know that today we came up against a much better side and that’s the long and short of it.

“We’ll learn from it and move on but let’s not get too down about it.

“We’ve got to find a way to compete with sides like that but, at the moment, we’re not ready for that.”

Stones, 17th after six games, go to Boreham Wood on Bank Holiday Monday.

Wood, who drew 1-1 at Gateshead on Saturday, are two points better off in 11th place.

Saunders has called on his side to forget about the Forest Green result.

He said: “It’ll probably be a different game from today. They’ve had a good start, they’ve got plenty of pace about their team.

“Like I’ve just said to the boys, let’s not get too down about it, let’s move on, get ourselves right for Monday and hopefully we’ll do that.”

Read the match report from Maidstone's 4-1 defeat by Forest Green.