Magpies boss Ryan Peters admitted his side had put themselves in a ‘tough spot’ after losing to leaders Maidstone United at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday.

The Magpies were again competitive in many aspects of their play, but they were second best in both boxes and second best by the only metric that really matters - the scoreline. 

It was a game that sums up the largely frustrating season they’ve had so far. For long spells they competed well, and they might well have earned a point or more had they taken their chances. 

But the truth is they gave away their two goals too cheaply and lacked a cutting edge at the other end. As yet, Peters hasn’t found a way to replace the goals and assists of Liam Dulson and Josh Popoola who departed in the summer. 

The result sees them fall to 18th and they look more like a mid-table side than a promotion challenger on the basis of their performances so far. 

The Magpies started slowly at the Gallagher Stadium and found themselves behind inside five minutes when Leone Gravata was given space to poke the ball home from close range. 

From that moment the visitors had to chase the game and that extra pressure saw them snatch at the chances which fell their 

There were half hearted appeals for a penalty when Jayden Mitchell Lawson was brought down in the area after 12 minutes while Josh Umerah struck the crossbar with a fantastic shot on the turn six minutes later. 

Umerah had to show great strength to pin his defender and make space for the shot, but the Stones defence made it extremely difficult for him to get his shot away. 

Umerah headed another opportunity wide under great pressure on the half hour mark. Peters suggested afterwards that Maidenhead’s defenders weren’t making life quite so hard for their opposite numbers. 

Remy Clerima was forced off by injury at the interval, prompting a rejig in defence with Manny Onariase coming into the backline. 

Sensing a vulnerability, Maidstone started the half well with Jordi Van Stappershoef pushing away Dermi Lusala’s strike in the 48th minute. 

Seconds later and the Stones were two goals to the good as they punished more slack marking from the resulting corner. 

This time Taylor Foran was left free to stab the ball home.

The visitors now had a mountain to climb against the league leaders, but they did at least make it into the foothills and give their hosts a few late headaches. 

Josh Coley came on for David Mantle in the 55th minute and scored with his first touch. Finally, Maidenhead got some joy in behind with Mitchell Lawson pulling the ball back for Coley to sweep home from close to the penalty spot. 

Maidenhead fashioned one more decent chance in the 72nd minute when Umerah fired a shot straight down the throat of Holden, but that’s as close as they came to a leveller.

The result leaves them seven points off the play off places and now only three points above the drop zone. 

They’re back on the road next Saturday at second placed Ebbsfleet United who have been making up for lost time after their delayed start to the campaign. Fleet also got the better of the Magpies in the FA Cup at York Road.

Speaking to club media after the final whistle, Peters promised he and the players would find a solution to their problems but he conceded they were in a ‘tough spot’ right now.