George Elokobi saw lots of respect between Maidstone and Gillingham in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

The Stones beat a young Gills side 2-0 at the Gallagher Stadium to reach the last eight of the competition.

Both goals came in the first half with Sol Wanjau-Smith adding to Devonte Aransibia’s penalty.

A fierce rivalry between the clubs, which included an FA Cup trilogy in 1980 and continued during Maidstone’s three-year stay in the Football League, has largely been on the backburner since the old Stones went bust in 1992.

Three Kent Senior Cup ties since 2018 have stirred memories and fans were kept apart on Tuesday night with Maidstone handing over the Genco Stand to Gillingham on police advice.

“We have to show lots of respect,” said Stones boss Elokobi.

“I’m sure there was no trouble here today.

“I’ve learnt of the rivalry between Maidstone and Gillingham but the game was played in good spirit on the pitch and between the two management teams we made sure we respected each other.

Report: Maidstone 2-0 Gillingham

“It was a chance for us to express ourselves in a cup competition against a good side in Gillingham and our players have done that professionally and with dignity and respect.”

Kent is one of the few areas without a Football League derby.

Maybe Maidstone, who played in the old Division 4 between 1989 and 1992, will get there again one day but Elokobi is all about the here and now.

“We can’t be getting ahead of ourselves,” he said.

“That rivalry was there in the past but now we have to concentrate on being a good National League South team and ensure we keep taking it one game at a time.

“Can we envisage this local derby in the future?

“Who knows? It might happen again one day but we know where we are as a football club and we want to carry on doing well in the National League South and heading in the right direction.

“Kent is a county that’s got lots of local football teams around. It’s not just ourselves and Gillingham, there’s Ebbsfleet, Tonbridge, Welling, Dartford, Dover.

“There’s a lot going on in the area and we just have to make sure that whenever we play each other, it’s done in a respectful manner.

“Yes, the fans can enjoy themselves with respectful banter but there’s a line we shouldn’t be crossing as rivals.”