Maidstone United manager Craig Fagan on beating Slough Town, an injury blow for Taylor Foran and the loan signing of Noah Nzuzi

Craig Fagan was impressed with Maidstone’s spirit after Ryan Hanson’s late winner against Slough on Saturday.

The Stones, leading at half-time through Ken Charles, conceded a poor goal within three minutes of the restart.

And after the blow of their midweek defeat by Ebbsfleet, manager Fagan feared heads could drop.

But they responded well to the leveller - ex-Stones striker Ruben Shakpoke having got between Frankie Hvid and skipper George Fowler before slotting home - and were rewarded when Hanson scored an 82nd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory.

The win moved Maidstone, who dropped from first to third in National League South after losing to Ebbsfleet, back above their Kent rivals into second spot, a point behind new leaders Truro.

Fagan was impressed with bottom side Slough, who he expects to climb the table under new boss Steve McKimm, so the Stones would always have to work for the points.

“Win the game by any means - that’s what we had to do,” said Fagan. “I was disappointed in terms of the goal after half-time.

“It was a lack of concentration, ball-watching maybe, I don’t know.

“But one player shouldn’t get between two to go and score. It’s a great finish from Ruben - that’s what he’s capable of - but it shouldn’t happen.

“But people make mistakes and you’ve got to be there to clear up, and the performance to go and win the game was good.

“After the disappointment on Tuesday, it would have been easy to, not give in, but to feel those emotions again and then maybe go on and lose the game.

Report: Maidstone 2-1 Slough

“But the spirit was there and the subs came on and changed the game, which was good to see.”

Fowler and Hvid were starting together in central defence for the first time this season after Taylor Foran