Maidstone boss John Still issued an ultimatum to his players after the defeat to Ebbsfleet.

Still was pleased with his side's overall performance but felt they weren't good enough in the key moments.

Stones spent plenty of time in the Fleet half but were beaten 2-0 by goals from Gozie Ugwu and Michael Cheek.

"The performance was very good," Still said. "I was really pleased with how we played but we've got to be better in both boxes.

"They scored from the only two opportunities they had and we had lots of opportunities in and around their box to do better.

"The first goal was a decent goal, I'm not going to be too critical of that, but the second goal was not good enough from us. People switched off, the ball bounces in our six-yard box from a long throw and it's not good enough.

"They're the things we have to eradicate and players have to eradicate it or, with the greatest respect, the players have to be eradicated. This is a tough game."

Defeat left Maidstone 14 points from safety in the National League and 32 behind their Kent rivals after 39 matches.

Still said: "On paper, they've got better players than us - but you can still win. Our organisation and discipline matched them and, I thought, overtook them in the end.

"We pushed them back and there was more goalmouth action in their box than our box but they got two goals and that's the name of the game.

"We're still building to win. I know they've had some problems but they're a good side.

"We showed that we're a good side without a little bit of discipline. By and large, the players were good but you can't switch off. Sometimes it's a second - but people get killed in a second.

"If you're organised and disciplined, you can't be a little bit organised and disciplined. You cant be organised and disciplined six days a week, it's got to be seven days a week. I have a saying: you can't be a little bit pregnant. You're pregnant or you're not. You're organised and disciplined or you're not and that's how I see it.

"We haven't got enough players that are that at this moment. The players have to step up to be able to do that, or we have to change players. It's not rocket science."

Still has, though, seen progress during his two months as Maidstone's head of football.

He said: "When I first came in, I thought the performances were shocking but gradually, the performances have been good.

"I thought we were very good at Wrexham, I thought we were good against Havant and I thought we were good here against Gills. I thought we were good here again today.

"Performances are not shocking, performances are good - but you've got to win."

Read the match report from Maidstone's 2-0 defeat at home to Ebbsfleet