Magnus delighted with debut

Magnus Okuonghae enjoyed watching Maidstone’s climb up the table – but nothing beats playing.

Okuonghae arrived in February as the big ex-Football League centre-half United needed to shore up their defence.

But he hadn’t played a single minute before the Good Friday win at Wrexham, where he was handed his debut in place of Jamie Coyle.

It was his first competitive game since playing for Dagenham at Braintree on Boxing Day but you’d never have known as the former Colchester captain went about his business.

Okuonghae (pictured) said: “The boys have been flying and Tuesday, at Macclesfield, was the first defeat since I’ve got here. I had no qualms with not being in the team and, anyway, it’s nice to come into a team that’s on good form and high on morale.

“I was delighted to play. It’s been a long time and I enjoyed it.

“There’s some real grafters in that team and it was a pleasure to play.” Okuonghae’s run as an unused substitute was up to eight matches, before he took Coyle’s place in United’s 3-1 win at the Racecourse. He said: “Wherever I’ve been, if I’ve been fit, I’ve played and the last year, maybe year-and-a-half. I’ve kind of lost my way where that’s concerned because of injuries and various reasons. “So it is tough but I’m not the type to sit around and look like I’ve been stung by a wasp because the bigger picture is Maidstone staying up. The boys were flying and I was happy to see that.” Okuonghae conceded a secondhalf penalty but justice was done when Lee Worgan saved it. He said: “I don’t want to start digging out refs and it’s a great save by Worgs but the lad’s behind me, so it’s difficult to foul someone who’s behind you. “I’ve read the bounce of the ball, I’m going to get there first, he’s kind of tried to put his body across me and I’ve just kept going in the direction I’m going. We’ve collided and he’s gone down.”