Maidstone lost to a late goal at National League relegation rivals Guiseley on Saturday.

Stones, trailing at half-time, looked set to return from Yorkshire with a point after Bobby-Joe Taylor levelled from the penalty spot seconds after coming on.

But the hosts took the points with a goal 10 minutes from time.

Maidstone handed debuts to Delano Sam-Yorke up front and Reece Prestedge in midfield, while Seth Twumasi and Anthony Acheampong returned at the back.

United, who remain outside the bottom four, started well against their fellow strugglers, a tasty early challenge from Prestedge letting the hosts know they were about.

The visitors had joy picking out Alex Flisher on the left early on, one diagonal from Tom Mills knocked back by the Stones winger for Kevin Lokko whose half-volley cleared the bar.

Jordan Preston missed the target after Marcus Williams’ cross was cut out for Guiseley but it was largely Stones, not afraid to go long when they had to, who looked on top.

Flisher was inches away from connecting with Jamar Loza’s cut-back, then an excellent chance from another Loza cross saw Lokko’s header hit the legs of keeper Jon Maxted.

The game changed, though, when Guiseley were awarded a penalty on 32 minutes.

It was given for a trip on former Leicester man James Wesolowski, with the ball gone, seconds after an excellent save by Lee Worgan from Elliott Green’s header.

Worgan got plenty on Simon Walton’s spot-kick but it squeezed in at the post.

The goal lifted Guiseley side who started to see more of the ball, using it well at times.

But Maidstone had a good chance to level right on half-time, Sam-Yorke’s header from a Vas Karagiannis cross held by Maxted.

The hardworking Sam-Yorke headed over from Prestedge’s cross seconds after the restart while Preston clipped the post for the hosts.

Worgan did well to deny Wesolowski after bursting into the box, then big Michael Rankine sent an easy header straight at the Stones captain.

Maidstone replaced Mills with Taylor and with his first touch he levelled from the spot after Sam-Yorke was brought down, the goal coming on 62 minutes.

Worgan made a wonderful low save from Wesolowski a minute later, the Stones keeper with virtually no time to react, and as the game opened up Prestedge played in Sam-Yorke whose first-time strike was blocked.

Maidstone were shading it but on 80 minutes they were behind again, the ball dropping in the box to Rankine who lashed home.

Acheampong went desperately close to an injury-time leveller, his shot blocked by the home defence as Maidstone threw everyone forward.

Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills (Taylor 61mins), Acheampong, Lokko, Prestedge (Rogers 76mins, Karagiannis (N'Guessan 69mins), Paxman, Sam-Yorke, Loza, Flisher. Subs not used: Coyle, Phipps.

Attendance: 1,040.