Maidstone United boss George Elokobi says there is no room for complacency ahead of weekend away National League South game against Truro City
05:00, 12 April 2024
updated: 10:20, 12 April 2024
There will be no room for complacency from Maidstone’s players this weekend, insists boss George Elokobi.
The Stones will aim to make it eight wins from nine National League South matches as they face Truro City at Gloucester City’s ground on Saturday - and look to edge closer to securing home advantage in the play-offs in their final away fixture of the regular season.
It will be Truro’s sixth game in nine days as they bid to complete a campaign plagued with postponements by April 20.
While on paper there appears only one result likely, Elokobi still expects his players to do a professional job.
He said: “At Maidstone United, we’re very professional.
“No game is won on paper, so we have to earn the right to be able to get three points against a good side in Truro. But we will be ready.
“It’ll be a tough test.
“We need to make sure that we are right, respect the opposition in our preparations and make sure, when we go there, we try to manage the game right from start to finish.
“We will see where that takes us.”
Captain Sam Corne did the damage in the opening 15 minutes of Tuesday’s 2-0 victory at home to Weymouth.
The midfielder’s double means he is now on 10 for the campaign, only behind 13-goal Matt Rush and Levi Amantchi, who left for National League Bromley last December.
Elokobi said: “Goals are hard to come by in this division.
“If you can get a midfielder to score 10 goals or more, then that’s all credit to him.
“It’s about him being effective in his performances and he has been efficient.
“It’s important that he carries on this momentum until the season finishes.”
Come the showdown games in the play-offs, few teams will want to play a Maidstone side who have been in fine form since last month’s 2-1 defeat to St Albans.
Elokobi, whose side edged to a 1-0 win at Farnborough last weekend as defender Raphe Brown netted, said: “It’s about keeping the same momentum, it’s about taking it one game at a time.
“It’s about being positive in our play and being positive, and getting the right balance in the team.
“If we are not playing well, can we still get the three points? At times in this run, we have done that. We have won ugly.
“It’s about managing conditions as well - we have to be adaptable - in terms of Farnborough away on Saturday.
“In very difficult conditions, our group of players managed the game exceptionally well and we got three points away from home.
“Then, it’s about when we are playing at home, as well. We need to manage the game right, start with the right intensity but, also, have that right balance in possession behind the ball and make sure the defenders are switched on at all times.”
With a top-seven finish guaranteed, Elokobi rotated his pack in midweek and made four changes.
He explained: “We have to manage the squad right.
“There’s plenty of games and, don’t forget, we still have a Kent Senior Cup Final against Ebbsfleet. We have to manage our players, we have to rotate them and keep everybody fit and hungry.
“It’s important that the players who come in give us the same input of the ones that are being rested and managed.
“They have done that throughout the season.”
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