HoneSty not beSt policy for gutted lokko

Kevin Lokko says his emotions were all over the place when he was sent off at the end of Maidstone’s FA Cup draw against Rochdale.

The Stones defender was harshly penalised for the 94th-minute free-kick that saw Dale take the tie to a replay.

He made his point to referee Charles Breakspear at full-time and was shown a second yellow card as Anthony Acheampong tried to pull him away.

Lokko said: “It wasn’t a free-kick. I didn’t need to watch it back to know that.

“I don’t want to say too much but he’s won it pretty well, he’s used his body and the ref’s bought it.

“My emotions were all over the place at the final whistle after conceding the way we did and I told the referee my thoughts.

“I said he wasn’t one of the best refs we’ve had and that I thought he’d made a lot of wrong decisions.

“It was putting my finger in his face that led to it being a more serious issue in his eyes. I wouldn’t have done that if I’d known he would send me off.

“Ach was trying to get me off him. He could see in my eyes I was fuming.

“I should have listened but I couldn’t control myself at the time, the passion inside me came out.

“It’s unusual because I can control myself most of the time but it was a big occasion and a vital moment in the match.”

Lokko, who serves a one-game ban at Southport tomorrow (Saturday), can’t wait for Tuesday night’s replay and fancies Stones’ chances of finishing the job.

He said: “What happened has been on my mind every day since Sunday. I can’t wait for Tuesday to come round now.

“I’m more fired up than ever before, so bring it on. We have something to fight for and know our capabilities.

“We’ve played a League 1 team off the pitch and can go there with a lot of confidence.

“We caused them loads of problems, they struggled to deal with what we had and we kept them quiet.

“It’ll be a bit different there because no doubt it’ll be a bigger pitch, the grass will make the ball zip quicker off the surface and the passing will be different but, apart from that, if we go there with the same attitude and put everything on the line, we’ve got every chance.”

The winners go to Carlisle in the second round next month, the League 2 side having knocked Lokko’s Welling out at the same stage last season.

Lokko said: “It would be good to play them if we do get through. They’re another big club.

“Our results this season have shown that we do like the long trips.

“It’s good to have everyone together, there’s loads of banter on the way and a good spirit.

“When you travel a long way you all give that extra 1% because you don’t want to go all that way and lose.”