Frannie Collin preserved Maidstone's unbeaten home record with a late penalty in a 1-1 draw with Canvey Island on Saturday afternoon.

Collin levelled from the spot in the 82nd minute, seconds after John Sands hit the post for Canvey.

His strike sent United back to the top of the Ryman League Premier Division on goal difference, with Dulwich's game against Bury postponed.

Stones piled on the pressure in search of a winner after the visitors had right-back Michael Alaile sent off for a second yellow card.

The Essex club held out but United have to be happy with a point having trailed going into the last 10 minutes.

Maidstone handed a debut to former Gillingham and Swindon midfielder Luke Rooney on the right wing.

His touch was everything you'd expect from a Football League player but he's working on his fitness after time out of the game and Stones perhaps missed an out-and-out winger at times when they needed to change the pace.

Rooney was though involved in the move leading to Stones' best chance of the first half, collecting Alex Brown's pass and finding Elliott Cox whose cutback was met by Collin, only for Scott Chalmers-Stevens to save.

The Canvey keeper also kept out Michael Phillips' 20-yard drive but Canvey had a couple of decent chances themselves.

Early on, Lee Worgan denied John Sands from former Stones man Nick Humphrey's through ball.

Worgan then denied Callum Webb in injury time after Tom Mills struggled to clear a Harrison Chatting cross.

Maidstone fell behind four minutes into the second half when Sheldon Sellears' near-post corner was headed in by Jay Curran.

Mills hit the side-netting with a half-volley after Phillips' free-kick was cleared to the edge of the box as Maidstone looked for a quick response.

Jerrome Sobers then flashed a header over from Rooney's free-kick, while Phillips fired high and wide as the ball dropped just inside the box.

Maidstone should have conceded again shortly after the hour when a counter-attack left Canvey two-on-one.

Sands squared for Curran whose shot was blocked by Mills, with the follow-up screwed wide.

Rooney roamed and his final involvement saw him pop up on the left and cross for Alex Flisher, who headed wide.

A golden chance to level went when Collin was denied in a one-on-one from Attwood's flick.

Sands hit the post from Webb's pass as Canvey missed the chance to go two up.

Seconds later, Chalmers-Stevens brought down Attwood in the box, escaping with a booking, and Collin sent him the wrong way from the spot.

Maidstone: Worgan, Cox, Mills, Brown, Sobers, Phillips, Rooney (Woolery 72mins), J Parkinson, Attwood, Collin, Flisher. Subs not used: D Parkinson, Harris, Campbell, Godmon.

Attendance: 1,794