Returning striker Matt Rush had two goals ruled out as Maidstone were held by struggling St Albans.

Antony Papadopoulos gave United a half-time lead, with Ken Charles levelling for the visitors.

Rush, introduced as a second-half substitute after rejoining on loan from Sutton, thought he’d restored the hosts’ lead but his strike was disallowed for handball.

He had the ball in the net again soon after but Reiss Greenidge’s shot had gone out and come back into play, rather than rebounding off the post, before Rush pounced.

The point extends United’s unbeaten run in National League South to 11 games although this was their ninth draw of the season.

Maidstone were unchanged from the side who started the midweek win over Eastbourne.

Saints, with ex-Norwich defender Ian Culverhouse in charge for the first time, shaded the opening stages at the Gallagher Stadium.

Maidstone had some defending to do but steadily grew into the game with Blair running as hard as ever and Sam Corne finding his passing range and dictating in the centre.

Blair had a strike parried by Michael Johnson before Maidstone took a 21st-minute lead.

It came from the left, with Blair finding Ben Brookes, whose cross evaded Bentley but reached Papadopoulos whose smart first-time finish found the bottom corner.

Soon after, Greg Cundle timed his run well to meet Blair’s cross but Johnson reacted well to push the ball out for a corner.

Stones keeper Alexis Andre Jr launched a swift counter-attack after the half-hour mark, a clearance finding Blair who shook off two defenders on his way into the box before hitting the side-netting under pressure.

Zane Banton fired over for the visitors after meeting a knockdown from a free-kick while Bentley made an angle to shoot from Corne’s clever pass at the other end but Johnson made a straightforward save.

St Albans had a good chance early in the second half when Charles played Shaun Jeffers in on goal but, unusually for him, his strike barely troubled Andre Jr.

St Albans were in the game, showing enough ambition to make you think Maidstone, by now with Rush and Sol Wanjau-Smith on the park, needed a second goal.

And so it proved as the visitors levelled in the 71st minute, with Charles planting a header past Andre Jr from a right-wing cross.

Maidstone fans were celebrating when Rush controlled Fowler’s ball into the box and lashed home but referee Lisa Benn adjudged him to have handled.

Rush had another effort ruled out eight minutes from time.

Benn copped it from the Genco Stand but it was the correct decision with Rush pouncing after Greenidge’s strike had hit the wheel of the goal, rather than the post, and come back into play.

Maidstone pushed hard for a winner with St Albans defending for their lives in the closing stages.

Maidstone: Andre Jr, Seaman, Fowler, Eweka, Brookes (Greenidge 74mins), Corne, Gurung (Court 89mins), Papadopoulos, Bentley (Rush 54mins), Cundle (Wanjau-Smith 66mins), Blair. Subs not used: Holden.

St Albans: Johnson, Miccio, Longe-King, Charles, Jeffers, Banton, Castiglione, Rasulo, Partington, Lench, Sweet. Subs not used: Payne, Akinola, Wilkinson, Allen, Chinedu.

Referee: Lisa Benn.

Attendance: 2,251.