George Elokobi tipped Josh Shonibare to get better and better after the winger’s first Maidstone goal.

Shonibare, a recent signing after a spell training with the club, appears to be quite a find.

The ex-Cheshunt player set up Jack Barham’s goal against Eastleigh on Tuesday and was on the scoresheet himself yesterday as Maidstone fought back to draw with Gateshead.

He arrived at the back post to head home a cross from Jerome Binnom-Williams early in the second half and the game ended 1-1.

“Since he’s come in he’s been fantastic,” said Stones caretaker boss Elokobi.

“He keeps growing and I’m going to say this, there’s plenty more to come from him.

“The longer he’s with us, he’s going to keep growing in the game.

“He played in different positions today in terms of us tactically changing the game and changing our shape.

“He played at right-back to start with and he excelled yet again.

“This is just to show everyone the dynamics of the squad at this moment in time where players have a lot of versatility that we can utilise.”

George Fowler put through his own net to hand Gateshead the lead in a National League relegation scrap.

He got his head to Dan Ward's cross but could only divert the ball past Stones goalkeeper Dan Barden.

There was no blame attached from Elokobi.

“We’ve always said to our players if you don’t try and defend that, then you’ll be in trouble with the gaffer right here,” said Elokobi.

“As the last line of defence you’ve got to put your bodies on the line, so I’m really sorry to see that go in but he’s trying to do his job and that goes with all the defenders in the team.

“Whoever’s there when the cross comes in has got to try and defend that cross, so I’m glad he tried to defend that and we move on from that.

• Report: Maidstone 1-1 Gateshead

“These things happen and we don’t dwell on it, we keep moving because I know how good a player he is, George Fowler.

“He’s been incredible for me and that doesn’t change anything. So I’m actually delighted he tried to defend that front post for us.”

A meeting of two teams in the bottom four was never going to be a free-flowing classic.

Bottom side Maidstone remain 10 points from safety, while the point lifted Gateshead out of the relegation zone at Yeovil’s expense.

“It was a game at times that was a bit scrappy but again you can’t fault our players,” said Elokobi.

“You can’t their commitment. They competed well.

“We knew Gateshead were going to come here and try to unsettle us but we didn’t let that put us off our game.

“I thought the first half was a little bit scrappy at times but again we came out in the second half, we said to the players we’ve prepared for this and we need to give the fans something to shout about, to play our game and not resort to playing the long balls which we did at times which was ineffective.

“From when we started passing you saw how we ended up scoring a very good goal with Roarie Deacon playing a simple pass to Jerome for the overlap.

“It’s something we’ve worked on in training tactically to try to get it right, so it’s actually good to see that ended up being a goal.

“In the first half I thought the keeper made a great save from a corner to keep them in the game, but then it was only one team again that looked like they were going to go on and win this game.

"Fantastic character from our boys. They showed a lot of heart and resilience to come back and salvage a point for our football club.”