Maidstone boss Jay Saunders says Leyton Orient's first goal should have been ruled out.

Saunders felt there was a foul by goalscorer Josh Koroma on Stones defender Will De Havilland in the build-up to the 10th-minute opener.

The O's added a second through Marvin Ekpiteta and while Shamir Mullings replied, Maidstone lost 2-1.

Saunders said: "We started the game very well and two sloppy goals have cost us.

"I think the first one's a foul for a high foot on Will De Havilland.

"I'd love to see it again but at the end of the day the fella's taken it off Will's head and Will's 6ft 4in or whatever.

"So, for me, if that's not a high foot I don't know what is.

Jay Saunders reacts to the Leyton Orient defeat

"The ref's not sure, the fourth official thought it was a foul but the goal was given and I suppose Will's got to play on there.

"The second one's a corner. Other than that, I don't think they caused us loads of problems, it was just at the other end we couldn't finish our chances when we got on top."

Saunders also felt Maidstone should have had a penalty for handball from a Jamar Loza shot.

That said, he also expected the O's to be awarded a spot-kick when Koroma went down under challenge from Jack Paxman, only to be booked for diving.

Overall, Saunders was happy with Maidstone's performance and it was good to see Mullings get off the mark with his header from Andre Coker's lovely cross.

Saunders said: "I thought we played some really good stuff.

"We played with lots of energy, I thought we had better legs than them and really took the game to them.

"It's a great ball by Cokes for the goal. I've been on at him about end product.

"It's a perfect ball for a centre-forward and it's a good header by Sham.

"My one query with it all is maybe we could have put a few more balls in the box once we had the two big men on there but we had chances.

"The keeper's pulled off a hell of a save from Blair Turgott at the end there.

"On another day that goes in and we come away with something.

"I thought we deserved a point out of the game at least but it wasn't to be and fair play to Leyton Orient, they got their goal and held on."

Read the match report from Maidstone's 2-1 defeat by Leyton Orient