Boss Jay Saunders got so caught up in the moment of Maidstone's winning goal he didn't know who'd scored.

Frannie Collin's 87th-minute header from substitute Ben Greenhalgh's cross sparked wild scenes at the Gallagher Stadium as United beat League 2 Stevenage 2-1 in Thursday's FA Cup first-round replay.

Collin was taken off moments later with Saunders oblivious to the fact it was his No.10 who had clinched one of the most famous results in the club's history.

Hero Saunders said: "The winning goal happened so quickly. I've just seen it and there's a hint of offside to be fair but on some days you get that luck and over the two games we've deserved that bit of luck.

"Frannie came off and I said to him 'Who got the second, was it Jay May?' and he thought I was winding him up. I didn't see it was him.

"I just saw it was a great ball in and it's one of them where you're waiting for someone to get their head on it.

"Frannie's done what he does all the time although, to be fair, he doesn't score many headers."

Saunders admitted he was preparing for extra-time before Stones scored their winner.

He said: "When we were taking Matt Bodkin off me and Nicky Southall (assistant boss) were contemplating whether to go for Alex Brown and put an extra midfielder in there because it was heading towards extra-time but Ben Greenhalgh offers you something different with regards to his crossing - it's first class.

"We felt if we could get him in the right areas he might do well because Jay was winning a lot in the air and I felt he might get on the end of something.

"As it happened, he got the cross in and Frannie's got on the end of it."

Boro boss Graham Westley was critical of Maidstone's 3G pitch in the build-up but proved gracious in defeat.

Saunders said: "Graham said at the end 'you deserved it, well done'.

"Look, the first game it's just frustration and he's made a few comments.

"We all make comments after games but they've come out and congratulated us.

"For a Ryman Premier team to put on the performance we have over the two games, I did worry after the first game that might have been our chance."

A pitch invasion followed at full-time - and Saunders didn't escape.

He added: "They were amazing scenes at the end. When the winner went in I don't think I'll forget that too quickly.

"I thought I was doing quite well when the pitch invasion started. I crept off round the back then someone shouted and I thought 'oh, here we go' and that was it, I sort of got carried over.

"It's a brilliant night for everyone at the club, the supporters but also the owners, Terry Casey and Oliver Ash, who've really put their money in.

"This was the dream. When I took over and we were groundsharing at Sittingbourne, nights like this seemed a million miles away. It's got to be my best moment in football."