Phil Starkey came in from the cold to help Maidstone earn the point that will see them crowned champions next weekend.

Starkey hadn't featured for 18 games, his last appearance coming in the 2-1 win at Canvey Island on January 10.

But he was the man boss Jay Saunders picked to replace suspended left-back Tom Mills against Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday.

And the former Arsenal youngster was arguably Stones' best player as Saunders' side claimed a goalless draw that all-but confirmed the Ryman League Premier Division title.

Starkey, normally a right-back, found out he was in line for a start soon after Mills' red card at Hendon.

He said: "The gaffer mentioned on the journey home from Hendon, after Millsy was sent off, that he was looking to put me in, so I'd had a couple of weeks to get my head around playing and prepare myself mentally.

"I played in a youth team game against Bolton at left-back to get some match practice.

"I'd not played for a long time and it did me good to get 90 minutes in that game.

"If you can play full-back one side, you can play the other - it's the same thing."

Ankle and heel problems, coupled with the form of Craig Stone, have restricted Starkey's involvement.

But he was there when it mattered at Champion Hill.

Starkey added: "I knew it would be hard to wangle my way back into the team. I've had to wait a long time but it was nice to be involved on the day we won the league.

"I've been around football long enough to know you have to bide your time.

"When the team's doing well and individual players are doing well, you can't expect to get straight back in the side. You have to wait your turn.

"At some clubs you might feel left out when you're not playing but not at Maidstone.

"They're all really nice and, like the gaffer said in the dressing room on Saturday, it's been a proper squad effort."

See Friday's Kent Messenger for the full interview with Phil Starkey

View our post-match picture gallery from Dulwich here

Read manager Jay Saunders' post-match reaction here

Read Craig Tucker's full-time match report from Dulwich here