Substitute Tom Leahy grabbed a late leveller as Maidstone drew their hotly-anticipated National League South match against title-chasing Dorking on Tuesday night.

Alfie Rutherford put Marc White’s men ahead after a goalless first half, only for Millwall loanee Leahy to help keep the seventh-placed Stones’ own play-off bid firmly alive as it finished 1-1 and Maidstone earned a second draw inside four days.

United enjoyed a strong start and had a great chance inside 90 seconds, only for the recalled striker Ruben Shakpoke to stab over from Arjanit Krasniqi’s pass at the Gallagher Stadium.

Eight minutes later as both sides continued to test each other out, Aaron Blair flashed a right-wing delivery across goal, having latched onto skipper Sam Corne’s pass forward from midfield, while Ben Brookes did likewise from the opposite flank.

The fourth-placed visitors had their first opportunity when former Dartford and Margate forward Jason Prior found a bit of space and fired a 15th-minute shot into the side-netting.

Three minutes later, home keeper Alexis Andre Jr made a smart stop in front of an attendance of 2,395 to thwart Rutherford.

It was George Elokobi’s hosts who were shading it on chances created, though, without really testing Wanderers goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes. A snapshot by top scorer Blair was the next chance to whistle inches wide.

While the Stones often found themselves in good areas in midfield, attempts to get the ball forward too quickly at times meant they struggled to make the most of them in an even and goalless half.

Andre Jr again had to be at his best inside 90 second-half seconds, making amends for a slip by home defender Temi Eweka to deny Rutherford as he spread himself well.

He could do nothing with the game’s opening goal after a period of sustained pressure, however, when James Muitt beat Andre Jr to a loose ball.

And Muitt set up Rutherford to score in front of the 267 away fans, which had made the midweek trip.

Elokobi instantly responded, making a double substitution that saw Leahy and forward Sol Wanjau-Smith enter the fray to good effect.

Referee Phil Eddie dismissed Maidstone appeals for a penalty on 70 minutes when substitute Jordan Higgs went down to no avail, just moments after he had come on.

As the intensity of the contest started to rise, Dan Gallagher sliced wide for Wanderers.

Centre-back George Fowler met a right-wing cross by United team-mate Charlie Seaman, although his 77th-minute header lacked enough power to get past Foulkes.

But the home team deservedly equalised with two minutes of normal time to go. Leahy nipped in ahead of his man at the back post to scramble in an excellent left-wing delivery from Seaman, who had switched flanks.

The momentum was with United in six minutes of stoppage time, albeit a winning goal wasn’t forthcoming.

Stones manager Elokobi made two changes from his starting line-up, who were held to last weekend’s drab goalless draw at Hornchurch.

Shakpoke and versatile midfielder Krasniqi replaced 20-year-old Leahy and midfielder Higgs, who dropped to the substitutes’ bench, before both coming on after the restart.

When the teams met at Meadowbank, they had played out a 1-1 draw in early November, despite losing defender Reiss Greenidge to a first-half red card, with Maidstone forward Blair cancelling out Brennan Camp’s opening goal.

United will again be in home action against Chippenham this weekend.

Maidstone United: Andre Jr, Eweka, Brookes, Greenidge (Trusty 72mins), Fowler, Corne, Blair, Seaman, Krasniqi (Leahy 62mins), Gurung (Higgs 69mins), Shakpoke (Wanjau-Smith 62mins). Sub not used: Holden.

Dorking Wanderers: Foulkes, Camp, Craig, Muitt (Young 85mins), Prior, Rutherford (Williams 65mins), Carter (McManus 85mins), Taylor, Gallagher, Norville-Williams, Milsom. Subs not used: Briggs, Murphy.

Referee: Phil Eddie.

Attendance: 2,395 (267 away).