Mills relishing the step up in quality
Long-serving defender Tom Mills appreciated Maidstone’s trip to Tranmere – even in defeat.
Mills has barely missed a game in United’s rise from Ryman League, Division 1 South to the National League and, at only 24, is closing in on 300 appearances.
Walking out at Rovers’ 16,500-capacity Prenton Park was another highlight in a Stones career that’s featured three promotions in four seasons.
Left-back Mills praised former League Cup finalists Tranmere and their supporters after last them and I think that’s how they got the second goal.”
Stones lost 2-1 to an 81stminute goal from a corner after Alex Flisher had cancelled out the leaders’ first-half opener.
Mills said: “We did well to get back in the game after going 1- 0 down. They got the ball and popped it around and found a way to get the first goal.
“Second half, we came out, changed our game, got the ball wide, tried to get balls in the box and Flish scored a good goal.
“We’re gutted to lose. In this league you get punished from set-pieces.
“You’ve got bigger lads stepping down from league football and if you don’t stay with your man, you’re going to get knockdowns and anything can happen.
“There was no pressure on us to go out and come away with three points.
“We put a good shift in, as we always do and were unlucky.”
Mills is happy with his own form, having been seen as a slow starter in recent seasons. He said: “It’s just getting into a new league, isn’t it?
“Going up again, it’s getting into the flow of things and I’ve started well, much better than last year.”