John Still believes Maidstone restored credibility with supporters following their performance at Havant & Waterlooville.

Still and head coach Hakan Hayrettin felt United owed fans after a lacklustre display in the 2-2 draw with local rivals Tonbridge on New Year’s Day.

They duly delivered with Ibby Akanbi scoring twice as the Stones inflicted Havant’s first defeat since losing to Hemel Hempstead on October 12.

Head of football Still said: “I actually thought that we lost a little bit of credibility with supporters in the local derby.

“Some were here today and the message gets around and we’ve shown what a Maidstone team can do.

“I think the credibility side of it came back because that for me was an outstanding performance.

“We’ve had some really good performances and today ranks with as good as we’ve done this season, if not better.”

The chance to restore credibility came up in Still’s team-talk.

He added: “I watch games and sometimes I try and take a supporter’s perspective.

“Local derbies are the hardest games to win, so you think a draw’s OK, but the level of performance was so far away from what we know we’re capable of.

“I said to the players, if I was a supporter I’d have been very disappointed with our performance, maybe not the result, but I feel you can get some credibility back today with your performance, and their performance was first class.”

Ryan Johnson joined a lengthy injury list, meaning a rare appearance for transfer-listed Lewis Knight in central defence.

Knight caught the eye for Still who also praised Chris Lewington for the brilliant reaction save which denied Josh Taylor an injury-time equaliser.

Still said: “People can use things like injuries but I think they’re excuses.

• Havant 1-2 Maidstone

“You’ve got a squad of players and they’ve got to play.

“We had some great performers all over the pitch and I will say, Lewis Knight’s not been playing, he’s been out a long while and I thought he was faultless.

“He was excellent and that’s every credit to him because we made no secret of the fact that he wasn’t living up to expectations and if you ask him he’ll probably tell you the same.

“But he’s come in today and he’s done a fantastic job with everybody else.

“A special word for Chris Lewington, who’s come in and been outstanding.

“When I had him at Dagenham, he played in Div 1 and was terrific for me.

“He’s older now and although he may have lost a slight bit of agility, as you do, he’s got knowledge and experience that he didn't have before.

“Jake Cole was carrying an injury and that’s why we took him out and put Chris in after the Concord game.

“We didn’t know Coley was injured. We kept on asking him but we knew something was wrong so we made the decision for him.

“We noticed in the Concord game where they had a shot that wasn’t the best and it came back off him and he couldn’t get up quick enough. It’s a calf injury.”

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