George Elokobi said Maidstone got what they deserved after their 5-2 hammering at Hampton & Richmond.

The Stones boss saw his side suffer a first defeat since September 5 after a defensive horror show at the Beveree.

It came out of the blue, with the visitors conceding just two goals in their previous seven National League South games.

Elokobi felt Maidstone made things easy for their opponents as fellow form side Hampton scored four times from headers - including a hat-trick for Mason Bloomfield.

Two corners and a free-kick saw the hosts lead 3-2 at the break and Bloomfield completed his treble after meeting a cross before Hampton added their fifth from the penalty spot.

“It’s football,” said Elokobi, whose side have dropped a place to sixth following their first loss in 13 league and cup games.

“I’ve been in football a long time and I know how it goes.

“We’ve been tremendous up to this point, this game, but Hampton aren’t a bad side and we’ve got to give credit to them.

“They wanted it more, they were hungry, they wanted to win the first phases and the big man, Bloomfield, was unplayable.

“Our boys need to learn how to defend our box and defend properly, and that’s something we have been doing.

“We need to make sure we defend the first phases and be aggressive but we didn’t quite have the aggression for some reason or the other.

“It’s down to the players on the pitch - if the ball comes into your area, can you win it?

“Can we win the first phase and not let someone have a hat-trick of headers against us?

“We got what we deserved because we didn’t deal with the set-pieces and that’s been the difference.

“We controlled the game well at times but it’s about making sure when those crosses come into our box, you defend them.

“This is a reality check for us. This is the National League South. Teams are doing their homework on Maidstone.

“They try and catch us on our weaknesses and well done to Hampton. They were well-prepared for this game.

“They knew they were coming into a good game, however, we’ve made that very, very easy for them in my opinion.”

Report: Hampton 5-2 Maidstone

Maidstone recovered from 2-0 down, with Sol Wanjau-Smith and a Devonte Aransibia penalty pulling them level.

But they continued to look vulnerable at the other end and were duly punished.

“We did well to come from 2-0 down,” said Elokobi.

“I thought the goal from Sol, and the build-up to it, was brilliant.

“It was excellent and he took it really well.

“He’s been playing ever so well and I told him last week I know the goals haven’t come yet but the performances have been excellent, so long may that continue.

“There’s a lot of competition now for our forward players to come to the party, which they did, but we’ve got to look at ourselves on restarts. We’ve got ourselves to blame.”

Maidstone might have had a second penalty at 3-2 down but a foul on Lamar Reynolds was ruled to have been right on the edge of the box. Again, Elokobi offered no excuses.

“I haven’t had a view on it,” he said. “I don’t know.

“Penalty or no penalty, we have to defend properly in our box and that hasn’t happened, so there are no excuses.”