Maidstone’s final game of the season was everything Jay Saunders was hoping to avoid.

A goalless draw against FC Halifax won’t live long in the memory as the Stones finished 19th in the National League on 54 points.

Lee Worgan’s late penalty save from Mike Fondop-Talom sparked a reaction as Maidstone threatened a winner.

But, on the whole, the day was more about celebrating another season at this level after safety was secured at Chester last weekend.

Boss Saunders said: “It probably turned into what I didn’t want it to be and that was an end-of-season nothing-to-play-for game.

“I think we needed an early goal, I think that changes the whole complex of the game.

“The game didn’t come alive until the last 15 minutes when they missed the penalty and we had some chances that probably should have won us the game.

“But it’s probably the same thing as it’s been recently and that’s we haven’t been able to score goals.”

From the highs of clinching survival, Maidstone laboured in the Kent Senior Cup final against Folkestone before winning on penalties and it was also no coincidence the Halifax game was flat.

Saunders said: “To be honest, after Chester away, the boys have been playing under so much pressure for two months, if not longer, and then all of a sudden we get over the line at Chester and we felt a relief.

“When we turned up Tuesday night against Folkestone I didn’t think we really got going and it was my worry today.

“I’m glad we didn’t lose the game because I didn’t think we deserved that but we lacked a cutting edge.”

Maidstone players met Maddy Harris before the game, the seven-year-old leukaemia sufferer whose Brave the Shave fundraising campaign went round the squad this season.

Maddy has raised more than £38,000 for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent, a total boosted by efforts at the Gallagher.

Saunders said: “She’s a lovely little girl and it was nice for the boys to meet her after getting rid of their hair for her. She’s a credit to her family.”

Alex Finney was named supporters' player-of-the-year and also shared the manager's player award with Stuart Lewis, while Alex Wynter won the players' player prize.

Read the match report from Maidstone's goalless draw with FC Halifax