Maidstone forward Alex Flisher has laughed off jibes over his weight and fitness, saying: "I've just got a tighter shirt!"

Flisher scored his first goal of the season in United's 3-1 National League win at Chester on Saturday, turning on Tom Murphy's pass and finding the bottom corner.

The strike silenced Chester supporters, while Flisher's condition was even questioned by some of his own fans during pre-season.

He said: "To be fair, people have come up to me before and said 'you're not fit' but I actually weigh less now than I did before I was injured, I've just got a tighter shirt!

"They can think what they like but I'm fitter than I was.

"It does make me laugh. You get used to it after a while.

"Everyone knows I like food but I've calmed down a little bit. Obviously you've got to take it more seriously in this league but I feel better now than I did.

"It's just a tougher standard so you don't stand out as much as you used to in the Ryman Premier.

"We're part-time footballers. Football's not my life, I've got another job.

"Tuesday night, for example, I was up at 6am to go to work and then you don't get home from Aldershot till quarter past 12 in the morning, and then you're up again at 6.

"What can you do? You've got to live your life."

Flisher made his name as a winger but has been used up front in United's first three games.

He said: "It's good. This is going to sound a bit bad but I thought it would be a lot tougher playing up front than it is.

"It doesn't seem as physical as it was last year. There's not as many battles, which is obviously easier, but defenders are a lot sharper and read the game better, which is where they stand out."