Jay Saunders said Macclesfield couldn’t live with his side as Maidstone claimed their biggest win since promotion.

United are up to seventh in the National League, only two points off the top, after the 4-1 win at Moss Rose on Saturday.

It was their most emphatic victory since returning to non-league’s top flight last season and one the manager felt would surprise plenty.

Saunders said: “After the midweek win at Eastleigh and then having another tough long trip today, I don’t think many people would have fancied us getting three points but the boys are in a good place at the moment, there’s a good spirit and they’re working hard for each other.

“We watched Macclesfield and just felt we could cause them problems if we got at them early and I thought the first 15, 20, 25 minutes we were very, very good - I don’t think they could live with us.

“After that we sat off a little bit - that was tiredness - but we looked dangerous on the break.

“The boys were outstanding today. It’s put us in a good position and we’re in a good place.

“That’s one defeat in seven and we’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing and if we do that, then we can have a good season.”

Saunders expects Delano Sam-Yorke to be out for a month with a hamstring problem, with Josh Hare likely to miss three weeks with a groin injury.

Johan ter Horst came in for Sam-Yorke, keeping the Silkmen defence busy, while Twumasi must have been man-of-the-match at right-back.

Saunders said: “Last year if we missed those sort of players we probably wouldn’t have had people to replace them so it’s good we’ve got that depth.

“I thought Seth was outstanding. I gave him a mention in the team-talk afterwards.

“It’s a very together group and even though he’d been out of the squad we make a conscious effort to make sure he doesn’t feel left out and the boys involve him."

Zavon Hines’ double and Alex Wynter gave United a 3-0 lead before a deserved fourth for Joe Pigott.

Saunders said: “Joe worked tirelessly, he scored a great goal and I’m delighted for him because I don’t think people realise how hard he works for us there sometimes and the job we ask him to do.”

Read the match report from Maidstone's 4-1 win at Macclesfield