Jay Saunders hailed Maidstone players after they secured National League safety with three games to spare.

Yemi Odubade’s injury-time winner against Boreham Wood clinched another season in the top flight of non-league football after a remarkable turnaround in form.

A run of one defeat in 12 games has propelled Stones to safety, starting back at York in February on a day when defeat could have sent them bottom.

Boss Saunders felt United were out on their feet against Wood but they were celebrating when Odubade scored the only goal in the third minute of added time.

He said: “I’m delighted. It’s been a tough season. Today was very hard.

"It was probably a game too far for us after all the long journeys we’ve had - I thought we looked absolutely knackered.

“They had a lot of the ball but we got the job done and I’m delighted to have another season in the league.

“To be honest, the turnaround’s been an unbelievable achievement.

"As a part-time team to only lose once in 12 games is a great achievement and it’s full credit to those boys in there because we asked them to do things, we asked them to look after themselves and do things on the pitch and they’re the ones that go and do it.”

Loan signings Delano Sam-Yorke, Stuart Lewis, Reece Prestedge and Joe Pigott played a huge part in Maidstone’s revival.

Saunders, whose side are 13th after beating Wood, added: “We made a decision at that point that we had to change things.

“We were obviously in the relegation zone, we had to change things and it was a big decision to make and we did change things quite drastically and it’s worked. It doesn’t always work.

“We brought players in that you hope are going to do well and they have come in and done well and that’s great.

“But you’ve got to give credit to the ones that have been here all season as well and some of the ones that have left, they’ve been here when we’ve picked up points.

“But if you’re looking at the table, those lads that have come in have made a huge difference, the likes of Stuart Lewis, Reece Prestedge, Joe Pigott and Magnus Okuounghae, who I thought was outstanding today.

“It’s not just on the pitch, it’s behind the scenes. When we were probably a little bit low at one point, when we were losing games, they’ve come in and given everyone a lift.”

Read the match report from Maidstone's 1-0 win over Boreham Wood