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Maidstone boss Jay Saunders was satisfied with a point against Sutton after more than two weeks without a game.
United, playing for the first time in 17 days, looked rusty against a U's side who led through Jamie Coyle's own goal in front of the new North Stand.
Jamar Loza rescued a point with a penalty as Maidstone finished strongly - but Saunders had no complaints with the result on a night when 2,929 people turned out to see the opening of United's new stand.
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The Stones are six unbeaten but have dropped a place to 20th in the National League after Woking - Saturday's opponents - won at Braintree.
Saunders said: "First half, Sutton came out the blocks, we looked rusty, which I expected, hence why I didn’t go mad at them at half-time.
"I think it’s one of them where it’s hard, no matter what you do training-wise, it’s always difficult to get the boys ready for that pace and, to be fair, Sutton came out flying.
"I thought we built into it, I just felt our quality in the final third, our final ball, was poor today.
"Recently we’ve been quite clinical in front of goal but I thought really in the final third we were a little bit sloppy, not workrate, just a little bit of rustiness but we responded well and you take a point."
Coyle scored an unwanted first goal in front of the packed new stand, putting through his own net under pressure from Adam Coombes, who was initially credited.
Saunders said: "I don’t think Coyley can do a lot else, he’s got to try and cut it out because if he doesn’t, the fella taps it in behind him and unfortunately for Coyley it’s trickled into the net."
Sutton were unhappy with the penalty decision for the equaliser as Loza went to ground but Saunders felt there was contact.
He said: "I thought it was a penalty. It’s one of them where there’s definite connection.
"To be fair to Jam, I think he’s tried to stay on his feet and just couldn’t.
"Sutton were disappointed with it but, for me, it’s a penalty."
