Tom Hadler came in from the cold to make the winning penalty save as Maidstone beat Notts County on spot-kicks in the FA Trophy.

Hadler, who hadn't played since October, was recalled by caretaker boss George Elokobi for his first game in charge following Hakan Hayrettin's departure this week.

And he proved the hero, saving low to his left from Matt Palmer as United won the Meadow Lane shoot-out 6-5 after a 2-2 draw.

Regan Booty’s penalty and a 40-yard wonder goal from Roarie Deacon put the visitors two up against the much-changed National League leaders.

But Adem Chicksen got the Magpies back into the game and Sam Austin scored a late equaliser to take the Fourth-Round tie the distance.

Maidstone, with Elokobi camped on the edge of the technical area throughout, made a bright start at Meadow Lane.

The visitors enjoyed good early possession while keeping their shape and discipline when County had the ball.

Indeed, they seemed more than happy to let the hosts have it on the edge of the own box - they certainly couldn’t cause any damage from there.

There were a couple of decent chances at either end before Booty’s penalty broke the deadlock.

For the Stones, Jack Barham cut inside his man and bent the ball just over, while the best opening fell to Sam Corne, who scuffed a golden opening wide from Ryan Galvin’s low cross.

Aaron Nemade volleyed into the side-netting for County after a long spell of possession in front of the Stones defence and Kairo Mitchell should probably have done better with a header from Austin’s left-wing cross.

The opener followed in the 40th minute after Aden Baldwin’s heavy touch in the box led to Barham being taken down by debutant keeper Archie Mair, who was booked.

Booty stepped up against his old club and fired confidently into the bottom corner for his seventh goal of the season.

Booty made a superb block from Kyle Cameron, while Matt Palmer headed wide as Notts responded to falling behind.

It was no surprise to see the Magpies boss possession at the start of the second half but Maidstone doubled their lead in their 57th minute with Deacon’s spectacular second.

Barham deserves plenty of credit for forcing Mair into a mistake after coming out of his goal.

The loose ball dropped to Deacon, who looked up a good 40 yards out and briliantly lobbed the County defence.

Hadler still hadn’t had a save to make but Notts were back in business in the 63rd minute when the ball fell to Chicksen, who finished neatly back across goal.

Maidstone were killing time effectively, winding up the home crowd in the process.

The Magpies, however, levelled six minutes from time with Austin finishing at the second attempt after Hadler kept out his close-range header from a cross.

Notts’ tails were up and, with seven minutes added on at the end of the 90, Maidstone had plenty of defending to do to take the tie to penalties.

Booty, Dominic Odusanya, Jerome Binnom-Williams, Deacon, Christie Pattisson and Josh Fawole, with a retake, scored for Maidstone in the shoot-out.

County converted their first five but Hadler denied Palmer to send Maidstone through.

Notts County: Mair, Cameron, Rawlinson, Mitchell, Austin, Nemane (Cisse 59mins), Francis, Baldwin, Bajrami, Palmer, Chicksen (Gill 65mins). Subs not used: Slocombe, O’Brien, Langstaff, Fearon.

Maidstone: Hadler, Fowler, Bone (Pattisson 78mins), Ellul, Binnom-Williams, Booty, Corne, Lawson (Odusanya 82mins), Deacon, Barham (Fawole 81mins), Galvin. Subs not used: Mersin, Alabi, Zoumas, Gurung.

Referee: Aaron Jackson.

Attendance: 2,405 (215 away).