Maidstone fought back from two goals down to draw a terrific match at Sutton on Tuesday night.

Dan Fitchett and Nicky Bailey put the U’s in charge but Bobby-Joe Taylor’s penalty and Jamar Loza’s first goal for the club pulled the Stones level before half-time.

It ended a run of four National League defeats and was the least Stones deserved for a performance full of character.

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Maidstone made four changes to the side beaten by Gateshead on Saturday, Tom Murphy, Taylor, Dan Sweeney and Liam Enver-Marum all returning. Alex Flisher was among those to miss out with a back injury.

New signing Loza looked bright up top alongside Enver-Marum as United set about the hosts in a lively start.

It had all the makings of a good game under lights and it really took off with three goals in eight minutes.

Sutton were in front after 17 minutes with a good move down the right that saw Ross Stearn feed Craig Eastmond whose near-post cross was headed home by Dan Fitchett.

U’s piled on the pressure after going in front, Stones looking unsettled from balls in the box, and it took a smart save from Lee Worgan by his post to deny Rory Deacon.

Sutton did, though, double their lead on 23 minutes, Nicky Bailey with a thumping free header from Deacon’s corner.

You feared for Maidstone at that stage but they were back in the game two minutes later when a foul by Kevin Amankwaah on Loza led to a penalty which Taylor converted down the middle.

The game settled down for a spell - it had to - before an astonishing save from Worgan diving full stretch to his left to keep out Deacon’s first-time volley from the edge of the box.

Stones then found themselves level a minute before half-time, Murphy picking up possession on the left and crossing to the far post for Loza to nod low into the corner in front of the travelling fans.

Stearn’s dipping 30-yard strike went just over as Sutton went close just before the hour.

Stones then switched off at a corner, played in low to the unmarked Adam May, with Worgan sticking out a foot to keep the ball out on the line.

Taylor tried his luck from 40 yards after spotting keeper Ross Worner off his line - and he wasn’t far away.

With the game getting stretched Worgan pulled off another superb save, getting down low to his left to palm away a downward header from Amankwaah.

Seth Twuamsi, up from right-back, just missed the target after running on to Ben Greenhalgh’s pass in the last five minutes.

Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Acheampong, Lokko, Rogers, Murphy (Murphy 87mins), Sweeney, Enver-Marum (Greenhalgh 66mins), Loza (Odubade 74mins), Taylor. Subs not used: Coyle, Paxman.

Attendance: 1,609.