Former Gillingham midfielder Darren Oldaker scored a last-gasp winner as Maidstone lost to National League leaders Chesterfield.

United looked set to take a deserved point after substitute James Alabi's 88th-minute header cancelled out Kabongo Tshimanga's opener.

But Oldaker, who'd set up Tshimanga's 82nd-minute strike, had the final say at the end of four minutes' added time.

Crowd favourite Tom Hadler made his first appearance this season in goal as one of three changes from the 3-0 defeat at Bromley.

Joe Ellul was back from injury in defence, enjoying a ding-dong battle with ex-Stones striker Joe Quigley, and there was a start in midfield for Dominic Odusanya.

Stones boss Hakan Hayrettin questioned his side’s work rate last week but could have no such complaints here as his side got about the league leaders.

Chesterfield showed their quality in possession at times, and carved out two or three good first-half chances, but Maidstone looked really bright, getting after the visitors and looking threatening in attack themselves.

The Stones worked keeper Lucas Covolan several times in a goalless first half, including a terrific low save after Sam Corne met Jack Barham’s cross with a diving header.

Barham, benefiting from Christie Pattisson’s support up front, was denied by Covolan after when found in space by Odusanya’s pass down the right.

Covolan made a further save from Barham after the Stones striker latched on to Hadler’s big clearance and took on a first-time shot and got down well after Roarie Deacon won the ball and teed up Pattisson.

At the other end, the Quigley-Ellul battle, a good old-fashioned scrap between two big lumps, made for fascinating viewing.

Quigley got the better of him a couple of times, firing just past the far post and crossing for Akwasi Asante, who looked set to score, only for Hadler to fling out a leg with little time to react.

Earlier, Quigley, who never won over fans during his short time at the Gallagher four years ago, took the ball off Hadler on the edge of the box - the Stones No.1 concerned about handling outside his area - but his shot was blocked.

Pattisson, unmarked from Corne’s cross to the near post, missed a golden chance early in the second half, getting his header all wrong.

Chesterfield had a chance to make them pay when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box but Hadler made a smart tip-over from Jeff King’s well-struck effort.

The end-to-end nature continued, Deacon probing away down the left for the Stones, while Hadler was sharply off his line to smother as Chesterfield threatened, then Liam Mandeville poked over from Branden Horton’s cross.

Chesterfield broke the deadlock eight minutes from time.

It was harsh on Maidstone but clinical from the visitors as Tshimanga ran on to Oldaker’s pass and fired into the bottom corner from a tight angle.

Hayrettin threw on Alabi with five minutes left and three minutes later he scored the equaliser.

Regan Booty was the provider, playing in a free-kick after a foul on Barham, with Alabi’s header going in off the post.

There was a final twist, however, when Quigley squared to Oldaker, who sidefooted home Chesterfield's winner.

Maidstone: Hadler, Hoyte, Fowler, Ellul, Galvin, Odusany, Corne, Booty, Deacon (Alabi 85mins), Pattisson, Barham. Subs not used: Mersin, Lyons-Foster, Gurung, Cawley.

Chesterfield: Covolan, Horton, Grimes, Mandeville, Williams, Asante (Tshimanga 70mins), King, Miller (Uchegbulam 76mins), Oldaker, Quigley, Banks. Subs not used: Akinola, Maguire, Cooper.

Referee: Aaron Bannister.

Attendance: 2,627 (385 away).