George Elokobi took responsibility for the first-half performance that cost Maidstone on Tuesday night as they fell 12 points from safety.

United’s 3-5-2 system didn’t work out as hosts Wealdstone dominated and led 2-0 at the break through Jack Cook’s sixth-minute opener and a Corie Andrews header midway through the half.

The interval gave caretaker boss Elokobi the chance to change things around, with Sam Bone dropping into a back four and Bivesh Gurung introduced in midfield.

Josh Shonibare, who’d played wing-back in the first half, was pushed on and he pulled a goal back as Maidstone improved after the break.

It finished 2-1, extending the Stones’ winless run in the National League to 16 games, with the first-half struggles ultimately proving decisive.

“That’s where the game was lost,” said Elokobi.

“Tactically, they worked the ball well and we got exposed.

“The minor details, the tiniest details, we didn’t quite get that right as a management team.

“We looked upon that and straight away we switched things up tactically to try and have a foothold in the game, to give us a chance to get in at half-time, so we can nullify it.

“Hence why we made a few changes in terms of the structure and dynamic of the team, in terms of personnel, to make sure we can go for plan B.

“As a management team it’s our job to look at that and see what personnel is best to start with, what formation we use against a good side in Wealdstone.

"I thought in the second half Bivesh came on and did an excellent job in there with Dominic (Odusanya).

“Second half, we asked the boys to go out there and make sure they win the second half, which they did, so I’m really proud of them.

“The second-half performance looked like us, what we embody at the football club.

“The first half is to learn from. We’re going to learn, it’s work in progress.”

• Report: Wealdstone 2-1 Maidstone

Bottom side Maidstone are further than ever from safety after wins for Dorking and Yeovil.

With nine games to go they appear to have little chance of making up a 12-point deficit but the fight goes on for Elokobi.

“I’ve never looked at the table,” he said.

“Our job is to ensure the players are prepared for the next game.

“We look at the table at the end of the season.

“It’s one game at a time and we're going to keep pushing the boys and driving the boys to help them get the results we crave.

“We have to keep going. Every single day we come to train, we try to help our players develop in different areas of their game and we try to prepare the team as best we can.

“Every player understands their roles and responsibilities within the team and that’s what we do.

“Now our job is to look at the first half, how we approached it and take it on the chin.

“We’re proud of our boys, especially for the second half.

“Everything we asked them to do, they did.

“It’s up to us as management team to nullify how the first half went. It’s not the players’ fault.

“We look at it and we do better as a management team.”