Hakan Hayrettin got the response he wanted as Maidstone beat Welling.

The knives were out after last weekend’s 5-1 beating at Weymouth.

The Stones got that result out of their system, and halted a run of four defeats, with Saturday’s 3-1 success at the Gallagher Stadium.

“It was important that we show this fantastic crowd again that we care,” said head coach Hayrettin, whose side climbed to ninth in National League South, five points off the play-offs with two games in hand.

“Was it (Weymouth) a one-off? Possibly. I wasn’t happy.

“I wear my heart on my sleeve and I say how it is.

“I think the players let everybody down that were involved last week.

“Today, and all week, we’ve been identifying what we need to do as a group and the main objective was to play and be free, get the shackles off and not be nervous.

“I thought first half we were a little bit nervous but the most important thing was they stuck together as a group.

“Sometimes you don’t have to play the best football, sometimes you don’t have to be the best player, you’ve got to be in the winning team and we had to find that formula against a team who’s picked points in recent weeks.

“It was important we put on a performance to show these people, to show everybody connected to Maidstone that it did hurt us and it hurt me.

"I said a few things that hit a nerve and we got a response today.”

All the goals came in the second half with Iffy Allen and Zihni Temelci putting the Stones 2-0 up.

Anthony Cook’s 89th-minute penalty gave in-form Welling hope but substitute Ayuk Tarh, on his return to the club, secured Maidstone’s first win in five games.

Hayrettin said: “I looked at when we scored the first goal and the jubilation on the players running from right-back and left-back to go all the way up the other end to celebrate was immense.

“You could see the relief when the first goal went in. It got a bit edgy when it went 2-1 with the penalty but I think we deserved it today.

“It was a cagey performance first half but I think we deserved it second half.

“I’m very relieved because when you lose you try not to take it home.

“I think last week I took it home, I think I kicked her (indoors), I kicked the cat, I kicked everything apart from a ball.

“That’s only because we care about our jobs and we want to do the best we possibly can.”

Tarh’s only previous appearance for Maidstone came as a substitute at Wealdstone last August.

The Cameroonian made a swift exit but is clear to play after resolving a dispute with a former club.

Hayrettin said: “I’ve always liked him.

“He had a few issues to do with certain bits and pieces with one of his old clubs in Europe, so it was important we got that out of the way.

“He came back and said he was available to play and I said, ‘get him in’.

“I think he’s a fantastic footballer, we’ve just got to get him fit and ready.

“He’s got great feet and it was great finish from him.”

• Maidstone 3-1 Welling

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