Jay Saunders won’t make a habit of play-off talk in the Maidstone dressing room - even though he started it.

Stones made the most of rivals’ postponements to go six points clear in second place in National League South with a 2-1 win over Margate on Saturday.

Sutton, Oxford and Gosport were all frustrated by the weather while Dartford, just outside the play-offs, only drew with Chelmsford and are eight points behind United.

Boss Saunders said: “Do you know what, it’s the first time I’ve spoken about the play-offs today.

“I said to the lads before the game there’s a few games off, so I just felt it was a good chance for us to open up a little gap.

“I know teams have got games in hand but realistically if you want to make the play-offs then you’ve got to help yourselves and try and win your home games.

“It’s probably the first time I’ve spoken about it and it’ll probably be the last.”

Joe Healy put Maidstone in front with a lovely finish from Charles Banya’s cross, with Vas Karagiannis’ superb free-kick clinching the points.

Saunders said: “I’m pleased for Joe. He’s scored some great goals and that’s another great finish, with his right foot, a hell of a volley.

“He’s had a problem with his groin but the last two or three games we’ve probably seen him a bit more back to his old self, he’s been trouble-free from that and that’s helped.”

As for Karagiannis’ wonder strike - his second goal for his new club - Saunders added: “He’s got that in his locker. We’ve been watching him doing it in training and I’ve seen him do it when I’ve been and watched him over the last year or so.

“When he got the free-kick I did feel it was an opportunity for him and it was a hell of a strike.

“As I’ve said all along, when he gets the ball he wants to make something happen.

“The goal last week did him the world of good confidence-wise and he’s a tricky customer.

“There’s things we need to work on with him. He’ll get that and he’ll understand a bit more about us but we’ve only had two or three training sessions with him.”