Maidstone had to settle for a point against National League strugglers Guiseley on Saturday.

They led through Alex Flisher, had a strong penalty claim turned down and could have been out of sight by half-time.

But the Yorkshire club battled back, equalising midway through the second half, to leave the Gallagher with their first away point of the season.

A Maidstone side showing three changes to the team beaten by Bromley on Tuesday night were slow to get going.

Guiseley may be bottom of the league but they looked bright early on, enjoying the best of the opening 10 minutes with Michael Rankine a handful up front.

Lee Worgan made a smart save when Rankine got his head to a Nicky Clee corner before Stones started to get into the game, Jack Paxman’s fierce drive pushed away by Jon Maxted.

Jay Saunders’ side were in front on 14 minutes, Bobby-Joe Taylor playing in Flisher who beat Maxted.

Liam Enver-Marum had the ball in the net after meeting a Taylor free-kick five minutes later but celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag as Maidstone got on top.

Guiseley remained a threat with Rankine testing Worgan and then firing just wide from Adam Boyes’ lay-off but the rest of the half belonged to the home side.

Flisher was sent through one-on-one again but this time Maxted made the save, followed by controversy when Enver-Marum went down under challenge from Javan Vidal after running on to a Flisher flick.

It looked a penalty - the Guiseley man certainly got nothing on the ball - but referee Adrian Quelch waved away appeals.

For Vidal, though, it was the end of his afternoon, injuring his left knee making the challenge and stretchered off.

A Taylor free-kick hit the post and then keeper Maxted, going out for a corner, as Maidstone went close to a second before half-time.

And there was still time for Taylor to cross for Flisher whose header hit the legs of Maxted when well placed to score.

An end-to-end start to the second half saw Flisher shoot over for Stones and Clee off target for a Guiseley side who had already made their three substitutions.

One of the changes, Reece Webb-Foster, levelled for the visitors on 65 minutes.

Found in space in the box, he couldn’t get his first shot away but made no mistake with his second effort, bending a lovely strike into the far corner.

Stones substitute Yemi Odubade was denied a debut goal when picked out by Paxman with seven minutes left, Maxted down sharply to block.

Maxted made an excellent save from a Dan Sweeney strike after the ball sat up nicely, then Jamie Coyle saw his header from a Ben Greenhalgh corner hit the top of the bar as the hosts finished strongly.

But there was a scare at the death after Paxman gave the ball away, Worgan superbly denying Preston, who could only put the rebound wide.

Maidstone: Worgan, Evans, Mills, Coyle, Acheampong, Sweeney, Taylor (Odubade 73mins), Paxman, Flisher, Enver-Marum (Greenhalgh 78mins), Mavila (Murphy 62mins). Subs not used: Rogers, May.

Guiseley: Maxted, Lowe, Vidal (Palmer 32mins), Lawlor, Boyes, Johnson (Preston 28mins), Rankine (Webb-Foster 46mins), Clee, Purver, Walton, R Atkinson. Subs not used: Wells, D Atkinson.

Attendance: 2,106.