Moves for two new signings collapsed ahead of Maidstone United's draw at Peacehaven.

Defender Steve Watt played as an emergency striker after a loan deal for a Football League forward fell through, while Stones also missed out on a second target.

Boss Jay Saunders is determined to strengthen his squad with Alex Flisher out for the season and targetman Jay May facing a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Saunders, whose side conceded an injury-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw on Saturday, said: "I thought we had one and then his club - a league club - pulled out at the last minute.

"Someone else I thought we might be quite close to but since then his club's had a few injuries so he's back in the side there.

"I don't think they'll be available now. That's that with them, so we've got to look elsewhere.

"It's a shame but there's not a lot you can do really.

"The players we like are contracted at their clubs and we're trying to get them on loan, or the ones that are permanent, they're at a higher level and at the time they're not playing so you think you've got a chance and all of a sudden they're back in the team.

"We'll see. It's not through lack of trying. It's driving me mad to be honest.

"I think everyone just thinks 'oh it's Maidstone, they can get anyone' but it doesn't work like that."

Watt gave Peacehaven plenty to think about as a makeshift striker in a switch to 4-3-3 but Saunders doesn't see him as long-term cover for May.

The Stones boss added: "I don't think we'll be looking to play him against Tonbridge there.

"I just felt with this pitch, the way the conditions were, we needed someone up there who could win his headers and I thought at times he did well."

Jack Parkinson is expected to shake off a cold to face Tonbridge at home on New Year's Day but Alex Akrofi could be a doubt after illness forced him off at Peacehaven.