Maidstone lost 1-0 to Dagenham on John Still’s return to the club on Tuesday night.

Still, who led Stones to the 1989 Conference title, saw his National League promotion chasers score the only goal midway through the first half.

But Stones gave it a right good go against one of the best sides in the division and should take encouragement from their performance.

United switched to a 4-3-3 formation in the hope of being more solid and there were few alarms early on.

If anything, Stones were on top with Jamar Loza dragging his strike wide after cutting in from the right and Kevin Lokko flashing a header past the post.

A double chance from a Bobby-Joe Taylor corner saw Jamie Coyle’s header blocked on the line, with Alex Flisher’s follow-up just wide.

There had been early frustration among the home crowd with referee Con Hatzidakis giving a number of decisions against the Stones.

And the mood was hardly lifted when Dagenham took the lead in the 26th minute.

Seth Twumasi was convinced it was a Maidstone’s throw but Daggers didn’t muck about, taking it quickly to Corey Whitely, whose cross was finished by Luke Guttridge with the help of a deflection.

Worgan had to stretch to reach Oliver Hawkins’ header from another Whitely cross as Daggers threatened a second.

Stones stayed positive with the excellent Jack Paxman’s 20-yard drive well saved by Elliot Justham by his near post, then Taylor worked the keeper after a one-two with Flisher.

There were a couple of scares for Maidstone at the end of the first half, Coyle cutting out Whitely’s cross in the six-yard box and Dan Sweeney blocking Jordan Maguire-Drew’s strike after the Daggers midfielder skipped past two challenges.

Flisher blazed over at the start of the second half after running clear from Loza’s flick.

Stones’ best football of the match, involving Paxman, Mills, Sweeney and Taylor ended with Mills’ cross almost turned into his own net by Jimmy Shepherd.

Moments later, Paxman dispossessed Josh Staunton and played in Loza, who hit keeper Justham’s legs.

Pressure was building, the home fans were vocal and it felt as though an equaliser was on the cards.

But there was a warning at the other end when Maguire-Drew somehow headed over from Whitely’s cross.

The same player then hit the bar after the ball broke off Frankie Raymond.

And Maguire-Drew was at it again in the last 10 minutes, Worgan with a flying save - adjusting his body in mid-air - from yet another Whitely ball.

Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Coyle, Lokko, Rogers (Odubade 75mins), Paxman, Sweeney, Taylor (Enver-Marum 84mins), Loza (Hudson-Odoi 80mins), Flisher. Subs not used: Evans, Greenhalgh.

Attendance: 1,970.