Maidstone were denied the biggest shock of the FA Cup first round when League 1 Rochdale equalised with the final kick of the match.

United were deservedly heading for a place in the second round after Bobby-Joe Taylor’s first-half penalty.

The match was in the fourth minute of injury time when Callum Camps equalised with a 25-yard free-kick. Kevin Lokko, who conceded the foul, was sent off after the final whistle for his protests.

Stones were excellent to a man in front of a passionate home crowd at the Gallagher and desperately unlucky not to go through.

Rochdale enjoyed early possession, Anthony Acheampong and Lokko with some defending to do, but Stones steadily grew into the game.

Alex Flisher, on his return from a back injury, and Jamar Loza were looking particularly dangerous as United began to look more of a threat going forward.

Both were involved in a nice move, started by Seth Twumasi and also featuring Liam Enver-Marum and Jack Paxman, as Tom Mills had a decent strike blocked.

Indeed, Maidstone were on top by the time Taylor gave them the lead from the penalty spot in the 21st minute.

Flisher was at the heart of the action again, with Loza bursting clear and being taken down in the box by Niall Canavan.

Taylor has proved a useful penalty taker this season and buried his effort low to keeper Josh Lillis’ left.

Maidstone were working so hard all over the park and, importantly, their concentration levels were spot-on against a dangerous side who’d beaten the likes of Bolton and Millwall in recent weeks.

Dale did have the ball in the net on 35 minutes but Steven Davies was offside and moments later United almost doubled their lead, Loza working his way into the box and forcing a good save from Lillis as space opened up for the shot.

The brilliant Loza ran from the edge of his own box to the Rochdale byline to set up an early second-half opportunity for Taylor, whose shot went out for a corner as Maidstone turned defence into attack in a flash.

The very presence of Loza was then enough to force a mistake in midfield by Camps, the Stones striker freeing Taylor for a cross which was dragged wide by Enver-Marum when well placed.

Davies sent a simple header over the top from Andy Cannon’s cross as Rochdale threatened around the hour mark, while Lee Worgan was out sharply to take the ball of the toe of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

Flisher was finding his energy from somewhere and after breaking into the box and holding off Harrion McGahey, he thumped over the top.

With time starting to run out for Rochdale, Davies hit the side-netting from a Mendez-Laing pass.

Taylor went close to a stunning second with three minutes left, a terrific strike inches over after Stones broke through Paxman and substitute Yemi Odubade down the right.

Four minutes of added time were just about up when Camps’ low free-kick beat the wall and went in off the post.

Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Acheampong, Lokko, Rogers, Taylor, Paxman, Loza (Sweeney 82mins), Enver-Marum (Odubade 85mins), Flisher. Subs not used: Coyle, Evans, Bridle-Card, Murphy, Greenhalgh.

Attendance: 2,227 (172 from Rochdale).