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Sport

Reaction from Maidstone United caretaker boss George Elokobi after 2-2 draw at Yeovil Town

By: Craig Tucker ctucker@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 07:33, 05 February 2023

Updated: 06:49, 08 February 2023

George Elokobi said it had been coming as Maidstone stopped the rot with a draw at Yeovil.

The Stones were set for a 10th straight National League defeat before Jerome Binnom-Williams’ thumping injury-time header from George Fowler’s free-kick earned a 2-2 draw.

Maidstone United caretaker manager George Elokobi. Picture: Steve Terrell

They produced arguably their best all-round 45 minutes under caretaker boss Elokobi in the first half, leading at the break through Sha’mar Lawson.

And while Alex Fisher’s strike and a Sam Bone own goal in a three-minute spell put Yeovil in front, the visitors kept going and got their reward.

They remain bottom of the league but the draw is a starting point in Maidstone’s survival bid.

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Elokobi said: “It was a great ball from George Fowler, in the right area, where the keeper is thinking should I go, should I not?

“But that was an exceptional header from Jerome. He picked his spot well.

“What I must say is we’ve stopped the rot - it’s been coming.

“We’ve been close in terms of getting a point or three points, and stopping the rot was all about getting us in the ascendancy.

“We’re now on the up and I know there’s plenty of work to be done.

“We said to them, when it comes to five past five, you have to come off that pitch in pain because that’s what it takes to earn a point or win three points.

“You have to make sure your bodies are hurting and they did it together, and that’s the most rewarding thing.”

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Elokobi, overseeing his fourth league in charge, was especially pleased with Maidstone’s first-half performance.

They were good value for the lead - given to them by Lawson, who impressed supporting Jack Barham up front in United’s 3-5-2 formation.

“It’s a well-deserved point from us, based on our first-half performance," said Elokobi.

“We came here with a tactical game plan and the boys executed that to max.

“They have showed resilience, character, a lot of heart, in terms of how we wanted them to play.

“We asked them to be united, we asked them to make sure they were connected throughout the game, especially in the first half, not leaving too many gaps where Yeovil could pick us in the pockets, and we did that in terms of distances between the units.

"We got that spot on in the first half.

"Yes, second half, we told the boys we knew what was coming when they brought the big man on (Fisher) up front and we knew they were going to play direct.

“This is something we nullified and practised in training.

"We had to go to plan B and plan B was tactically changing our shape to contain the threats they were posing to us.

“But in terms of the performance today we are absolutely proud of these players.

"We are proud of the boys for showing the desire, the heart, the never-say-die attitude, rolling their sleeves up all the way to the end and making sure we earned a point.”

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