Maidstone's first game in the National League ended in a 1-1 draw against York City.

Bobby-Joe Taylor gave Stones a half-time lead with a brilliant strike but City levelled through Clovis Kamdjo midway through the second half.

Jay Saunders handed debuts to Kevin Lokko and Anthony Acheampong at centre-half and Tom Murphy on the right, while Ben Greenhalgh started his third spell with the club playing behind main striker Alex Flisher.

Stones, back in the top flight of non-league for the first time since winning the Conference in 1989, made a lightning start against a York outfit down from League 2.

Saunders’ side went after the Minstermen from the off, early pressure forcing three corners inside 10 minutes, while a series of Flisher long throws gave City’s three centre-halves plenty to think about.

Flisher had threatened at the far post after Callum Driver’s cross eluded Greenhalgh, in what was the first real chance, around the 20-minute mark.

Two minutes later Maidstone went in front with Taylor playing a neat one-two with Dan Sweeney and drilling the ball into the far bottom corner, another wonderful strike from one of Stones’ play-off heroes.

Greenhalgh had a header cleared off the line after keeper Scott Flinders made a mess of Flisher’s latest missile.

York’s first little spell just before the half-hour came to nothing with Stones back up the other end, Taylor freeing Greenhalgh who worked Flinders.

The Minstermen grew into the game towards the end of the half, Driver and James Rogers with important tackles and interceptions as Aidan Connolly and Scott Fenwick started to show their quality in the final third.

Maidstone looked good at the start of the second half, too, Flisher smartly releasing Greenhalgh and taking the return pass but firing well over the top.

Rogers then sent Taylor away down the right, his ball across the six-yard box screaming out for a finish.

Greenhalgh had a shot blocked from Murphy’s cross on the hour as Stones continued to take the game to the visitors, with still no obvious difference in fitness between the full and part-timers.

York did though come on strongly shortly after, seeing lots of the ball and finally asking questions of the home defence.

Tom Mills made a decent challenge on Shaun Rooney but from the corner, Connolly’s ball in was headed home by Kamdjo on 69 minutes.

Lee Worgan was credited with a touch to Rooney’s strike moments later as York threatened a second, then Alex Whittle flashed an effort wide after a run up the left.

Substitutes Jack Paxman and Dumebi Dumaka combined for a glorious late chance for Stones. The pair swapped passes on the edge of the box with space opening up for Paxman who was denied at the near post by Flinders.

Mills' 25-yard drive from a Paxman pass was well saved in injury time.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Lokko, Acheampong, Rogers, Sweeney (Paxman 74mins), Murphy (Karagiannis 71mins), Flisher (Dumaka 74mins), Greenhalgh, Taylor. Subs not used: Coyle, Evans.

York: Flinders, Rooney (Robinson 89mins), Whittle, Kamdjo, Higgins, Fry, Heslop, Klulowski, Connolly, Clappison, Fenwick (Brodie 84mins). Subs not used: Simpson, Felix, Dixon.

Attendance: 2,495.