Jay Saunders felt his Maidstone side looked much fitter than Hartlepool’s full-timers.

The teams drew 1-1 on a sweltering opening day at the Gallagher Stadium but United finished the stronger.

Pools had the best of the first half but Maidstone pushed hard after the break and looked the more likely winners.

Stones boss Saunders said: “Second half, we really took the game to them.

“I thought we played with good pace, good energy, we upped the tempo and got it wide a lot quicker, which is what we wanted to do.

“There were loads of positives. It’s just a shame we didn’t get the win because we had some real good opportunities and the keeper made some very good saves.

“I thought we looked a lot fitter than them. I was pleased with that.

“For us it’s good because they’re a full-time outfit and obviously we’re still only three mornings.”

Maidstone led through Blair Turgott’s 41st-minute penalty but Liam Noble levelled immediately.

Saunders said: “I thought as the game went on we grew into it.

“I was a little bit unhappy with the first half - I felt we looked a little bit cagey - but we got the goal.

“I was disappointed we conceded a minute later because if we go in at half-time 1-0 it’s a different story but we couldn’t do that.

“It’s a silly goal. Personally I think there’s a foul in the build-up - a high foot on Will De Havilland - but the ref was a little inconsistent so we didn’t get that.

“I think you look at it and they’re one of the fancied sides and I thought we gave a good account of ourselves.

“There’s some things that need working on but for a first game of the season, it was a good performance.

“You can’t fault them for effort.

“We had a good go, even when we weren’t really at it in the first half.

“They came in, we had a word with them and they responded second half and really stepped it up.”

Read the match report from Maidstone’s 1-1 draw with Hartlepool