Maidstone midfielder Jack Paxman wants to go for the play-offs after coming through the hardest season of his career.

Paxman grew into a big player in United’s National League survival push, the arrival of Reece Prestedge and Stuart Lewis taking his game to another level.

After survival was confirmed on Easter Monday, Paxman said: “It’s been the best but the hardest season I’ve ever been involved with.

“I’m over the moon now. I feel like I did when we beat Ebbsfleet in the play-off final. I’m chuffed to bits for everyone.

“We’ve stayed in the league, we now get the chance to go full-time next season and if we keep this group together and continue our performances, we’ll be pushing.

“Next season we know what we’re up against and what we need to do and if we can keep the group together I don’t see why we can’t push on and maybe get around the play-offs. That would be lovely.”

Maidstone had a problem in midfield after Joe Healy, due back after going travelling, changed his mind and signed for Dover.

But boss Jay Saunders’ patience in the market paid off when he signed Lewis and Prestedge on loan.

Paxman said: “There was a stage when everyone was expecting Joe to come back.

“It didn’t work out that way so the gaffer had some work to do.

“He made some very good signings in Stu and Reece and it worked out for the best in the end. They’ve been different class for me and everyone really.

“They’re good football players. Stu-Lew has got an engine you’ve never seen before, it’s ridiculous, and Reece is composed and can do both sides of the game, he wins the ball back and he gets us playing.

“They’re both very experienced, they talk to everyone and organise well and they’re great in the changing room.

“You’ve always got to be positive but at one stage it did look dark, it looked like we were in a rut that we couldn’t seem to get out of but everyone’s stuck together and the gaffer’s been different class.

“He’s brought in the right people, the right heads, we’ve kicked on and we reached a point where we knew we were going to get out of trouble.”