George Elokobi described Maidstone’s dramatic play-off victory over Aveley as a fantastic advert for National League South.

Substitute Mo Faal settled Wednesday’s eliminator at the Gallagher Stadium with an added-time winner as the Stones came from a goal down to progress.

It came after Matt Rush had levelled against his old club, with the 2-1 victory securing a semi-final at Worthing on Sunday (3pm).

Maidstone and Aveley met for the third time this season after final-day wins saw them finish fourth and seventh respectively.

The Millers, having won the previous two meetings, led through Manny Ogurinde but Maidstone would not go away.

“The results on Saturday meant two exceptional sides could get together for round three and what a battle it was,” said Stones manager Elokobi.

“What a great advert for National League South and for Maidstone United Football Club.

“The players have come out and executed the game plan perfectly. Everyone was magnificent.

“Nothing’s been achieved yet - we’ve not won anything - but I thought the players were fantastic.”

Aveley made life difficult for Maidstone after taking the lead from their first real opening of the game.

But the hosts’ patience was rewarded when Rush finished Reiss Greenidge’s knockdown before turning provider as Faal struck in the second minute of added time.

“That’s the character of our players this season - we never give up,” said Elokobi.

“We didn’t go behind by playing badly, it was good play and a good cross by Aveley and we respect that.

“But the one thing we said in the changing room is we can’t get carried away with emotions.

“We needed to stick to the game plan and keep playing with freedom but be patient because we knew they were quite compact in terms of setting up in a mid-low block.

“The spaces were out wide and we needed to have some good movement in the half-spaces and keep switching the play as quickly as we could.

“Then we're going to hurt them because they have to move where the ball is and that will wear them down and open up space for our forward players.

“We’d created some good chances in the first half and we said, second half, you have to be ruthless, you have to be relentless.

Report: Maidstone 2-1 Aveley

“When you get that one opportunity, make sure you take it because you won’t have too many.

“Their keeper was on fine form but it was good to see Matt Rush getting that goal and with Mo Faal on it gave them a different problem to solve.

“He was exceptional in terms of the link-up play between him, Matt Bentley and Matt Rush and he deserved his goal.

“We stretched them in different ways and that’s the dynamism within our squad.”

Before the match, Maidstone formed a guard of honour for long-serving club captain Gavin Hoyte after it was announced he would be leaving this summer.

Hoyte, a Stones great after five years at the Gallagher, lifted the National League South title alongside Elokobi two years ago and led the side on their historic run to the FA Cup last 16 this season.