Jack Richards' first National League start for Maidstone was so unexpected his parents went away on holiday.

Youth product Richards had been told by boss Jay Saunders he was closing in on a game but had no idea it would be against Wrexham on Saturday.

The 18-year-old grabbed his chance, taking the game to the Dragons defence and scoring the winner, while mum Jenny and dad Dean followed the action from Marbella.

Richards said: "Jay's given me a bit of indication lately but I wasn’t expecting to come here and play today.

"Like the rest of the season I expected to be on the bench and hopefully get on.

"It was a bit of a shock but I was buzzing as soon as he read my name out.

"My family are off on holiday so they weren’t here to see it.

"Dad's not going to be very happy with my mum because he wanted to come back and watch, just in case I played.

"I'm sure he's already had a moan in her ear!"

Richards caused plenty of problems playing from the left wing, capped by his first-half winner as Maidstone came from a goal down to record their first win.

He said: "I’ve been here since under-13s and to score my first goal for the first team, and in a league match, I was buzzing.

"I hit it low and hard and I think it was Tom Wraight who stood in front of me and just let it run so the keeper didn’t know where it was going to go.

"That big stand at the end was bouncing when I scored.

"I didn’t really know what to do to be honest, I was in shock, but hopefully I’ll know what I’m doing if I get another goal.

"When I woke up this morning I never would have thought I’d be starting, never mind scoring the winning goal. I’m just happy how it's turned out."

Richards expects to shake off a minor knee injury and the challenge now is to stay in the side.

He said: "I just need to get this knee sorted and get straight back on the pitch because if I’m going to get a start, I want to keep my shirt.

"It’s come because there are injuries and lads that aren’t playing at the minute but the manager can’t change it if someone’s doing well."