Callum Driver was surprised to see nerves get the better of Maidstone in their top-of-the-table 2-1 defeat by Sutton.

While the U’s showed their class in Tuesday night’s National League South title clash at the Gallagher, the occasion seemed to get to the hosts.

Safe in the play-offs, boss Jay Saunders told his players to go out and enjoy themselves but it was effectively game over at two goals down inside 10 minutes.

Driver said: “We wanted to start well but it didn’t happen for us, they got two quick goals and we were chasing the game from then on.

“The changing room was a little bit different than usual before the game. I don’t feel as though we should have been nervous, we had nothing to be nervous about.”

He added: “There were a lot more people here watching and you could feel the tension.”

Right-back Driver has called on Maidstone to learn from the experience of playing a high-stakes game in front of a capacity crowd, given they will have to go through it all again in the play-offs, barring an unlikely title twist.

He said: “We have to learn from this. We’re a young side, we’ve not got too many old heads in the changing room, so for the younger players it’s good experience.

“We’re going to have some big games coming up. With Dartford this weekend there’s going to be another big crowd here and we’ve just got to try and take some good form into the play-off games.”