Reasons to be cheerful
Proud boss George Elokobi says it’s just the beginning for Maidstone following their FA Trophy exit on Saturday.
The Stones were beaten 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw against National League playoff hopefuls Barnet.
Defeat in the last eight ended hopes of a first Wembley Final for the club but Elokobi is looking at the bigger picture. “It’s easy to pick our boys up,” said the Stones caretaker manager. “They don’t need picking up.
“We’ve just said to them in there, listen, you left everything on the pitch and this football club, everyone that’s connected to Maidstone United, is proud of each and every one of you.
“I’ve told them when they come out, to have their heads up because they’ve put in a shift-and-a-half for everyone at this football club today and we should be proud of that performance.
“Our fans, yes, they might be disappointed because the Wembley dream is over, but the dream is not over just yet. The dream is very much alive. “This is just the beginning of Maidstone United Football Club and we will get better.
“It might take a bit of time but we will get better.
“Our players, each and every one of them, left everything on this pitch today for our football club and that’s all we need to remember now.”
Roarie Deacon gave Stones, hoping to reach the last four
for the first time, a 15th-minute lead. Barnet were 2-1 in front by half-time but Sol WanjauSmith’s Panenka penalty made it 2-2 as the National League strugglers fought back. Wanjau–Smith hit the bar in
the shoot-out and Jack Barham’s effort was saved as Barnet progressed.
It proved to be Barham’s final appearance, with the 10-goal striker sold to Aldershot on Tuesday.
Elokobi said: “The performance you saw out there was full of grit, it was full of fight, it was full of energy, it was full of quality.
“Each and every one of our players gave it their all out
there, throwing their bodies on the line.
“They were warriors out there for us, like they’ve been throughout, so I’m absolutely thrilled with the way our players went about the Quarter-Finals.”