Maidstone United 1 Scunthorpe United 1 match report: National League strugglers cannot be separate with Sam Bone's goal cancelled out

There was nothing to separate the bottom two National League sides as Maidstone were held by Scunthorpe on Tuesday night.

Utility player Sam Bone had put the Stones ahead with a deflected goal but away captain Jacob Butterfield got the visitors level shortly after the restart.

Both sides did push for a winner in the latter stages but could not find one and a draw does little to help either outfit's survival hopes.

As the hosts tried to set the tempo at the Gallagher Stadium in front of a crowd of 1,571, defender George Fowler put in a couple of big - but fair - tackles inside the opening minute.

The first chance of the night fell to Scunthorpe in the fifth minute, though.

Jacob Butterfield’s shot was easily gathered by goalkeeper Dan Barden before the away skipper saw a drive whistle just wide, six minutes later.

The recalled Mark Marshall then whipped in a dangerous cross for Maidstone, which just had too much on it for frontman Jack Barham at the back post.

But Barden thwarted Dion Semble-Ferris after a corner had fallen to him in the 19th minute.

Midway through the first period, Maidstone went close for the first time.

A right-wing delivery came to the edge of the area and, after a mis-hit effort had fallen kindly to Sol Wanjau-Smith, he forced keeper Aaron Chapman to make a save.

But the hosts went in front shortly after the half-hour mark in somewhat fortunate circumstances.

A long-range effort from Bone took a wicked deflection which wrong-footed Chapman in the away goal, who had no chance, with Bone claiming his first club goal.

Jimmy Dean’s troops looked for a swift response four minutes later, and Barden pushed a long-range shot by forward Elliott wide to preserve the Stones advantage at half-time.

But, within