Ross Lafayette’s late goal earned a point for Maidstone in a cracking game against National League leaders Macclesfield.

Alex Wynter gave United a half-time lead but the Sikmen hit back through Danny Whitaker, after a defensive mistake, and a classy Elliott Durrell strike.

Substitute Lafayette made it 2-2 with seven minutes left and that was how it finished despite nine minutes of added time.

Maidstone were unchanged from the side who beat Sutton on Saturday.

The confidence gained from back-to-back wins and successive clean sheets showed as United looked to get at the leaders.

They played some lovely stuff against a Silkmen side who also love to get the ball down and pass it.

The visitors, with 37-year-old Whitaker still such an effective player, hit the woodwork twice in the first half.

Durrell was the first man denied with his 25-yard drive coming back off the post in the opening minutes.

Then in added time, big Nathan Blissett powered a header from a cross against the bar.

Loza and Lewis had shots blocked before Maidstone’s opening goal on 19 minutes.

Will De Havilland was taken down just outside the box after a fine run.

Joe Anderson’s low free-kick was parried by Shwan Jalal with Wynter reacting quickest to finish the loose ball.

Jalal had a meltdown after strangely picking up a backpass, booked for kicking the ball away, but United couldn’t make the most of the indirect free-kick.

Two excellent Maidstone moves deserved more late in the first half.

The first saw Alex Finney’s pinpoint 60-yard pass pick out Hare whose cross was dummied by Loza for Lewis to latch on to and smack inches wide.

The second was a result of Delano Sam-Yorke’s hard work in disposessing Keith Lowe on the edge of the area.

Anderson took up posssesion just outside the box and fed Turgott who exchanged passes with Lewis before knocking the ball back out to Anderson for a cross that was headed wide by Loza.

Macclesfield made a good start to the second half, Blissett heading over when well placed.

And they were level in the 52nd minute when Worgan came and collected a cross but then collided with Wynter, leaving both men on the floor and the grateful Whitaker to roll the ball into the empty net.

Maidstone struggled to get going after that and it was no surprise when they fell behind in the 75th minute.

Durrell had too much space but the finish was brilliant as he bent the ball with the outside of his right foot into the top corner from 20 yards.

Blissett might have made it three after running through in the last 10 minutes but Worgan stuck a hand to make the save.

Back came Maidstone with the leveller in the 83rd minute, Anderson’s free-kick dropping in the box and Lafayette finishing smartly.

There had been a few stoppages but it was surprising to see nine minutes added on by referee Adrian Quelch.

Both sides went for it but it finished all-square.

Maidstone: Worgan, Hare, De Havilland, Wynter (Luer 83mins), Finney, Anderson, Lewis, Reason (Phillips 66mins), Turgott, Loza, Sam-Yorke (Lafayette 70mins). Subs not used: Paxman, Wraight, Luer.

Attendance: 1,994 (68 away).