George Elokobi spoke of his pride in Maidstone’s players after a season to remember ended in play-off semi-final defeat.

There were tears at full-time after United were beaten by an 89th-minute Ollie Pearce goal in a 2-1 loss at Worthing.

It means another season in National League South for the Stones but what a year it’s been, finishing fourth, reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup and winning the Kent Senior Cup.

“Firstly, massive congratulations to Worthing,” said Stones boss Elokobi.

“They deserved to win the game and we wish them all the very best for the final.

“What can I say about our group of players? It’s going to hurt, it does hurt because we are winners, but there’s only one team that can go through.

“Our players gave us everything this season and it’s not just today, I call them the history entertainers.

“They’ve entertained not just the community of Maidstone, they’ve entertained the world and I’m super proud to call them history makers because they’ve given us everything to the very last second.

“What a historic season it’s been. We take our pill tonight and make sure we get a deserved rest and then we’ll be back next season.”

Matt Bentley cancelled out Pearce’s opener but there was agony for Maidstone at the death after Matt Rush hit the bar at one end, with Worthing breaking and scoring the winner.

United beat Aveley in injury time in their midweek play-off eliminator but it was their turn to suffer a late twist.

“That’s just the manner of football,” said Elokobi.

“That’s the ups and downs; that’s the positives, the joys, but also the pain.

“To concede at the death obviously didn’t give us enough chance to equalise but we went and created enough chances to try and get something out of the game.

“But it’s important we look at the manner of how we’ve gone throughout the season in terms of the volume of games we’ve played. I think this is our 62nd or 63rd game with the squad we’ve had.

“I’m tremendously proud of our group of players, the staff at Maidstone United Football Club and our board because we’ve given a right old go.

Report: Worthing 2-1 Maidstone

“It’s hard to pick them up at this stage.

“I’ve got very teary players in there but as a leader you have to pick them up as we have to go again.”

Elokobi and his staff have rebuilt the club this season following relegation from the National League.

They’ve engaged the town and brought the feelgood factor back to the Gallagher.

The Stones boss will treasure his first full season in management.

He said: “The last thing I’m going to say is I’m grateful for the opportunities, I’m grateful for the support of our community and more so our supporters - I love them to bits - and we’ll be back.

“I want to thank them for their efforts, I want to thank them for their selfless commitment, up and down this country, but boy, boy, boy, we’ve had some moments, all the way to the very last second.

“It showed it at the end when you saw them stood there applauding our group of players because they are super proud of them.

“I know some might be disappointed but again this is why we’re in football.

“We have our moments that no one can take away from us, so now it’s time for us all to enjoy a good summer because it’s been one hell of a season.

“It’s been an entertainment, it’s been a movie, so our supporters have to be proud.

“Maidstone is on the map. Maidstone’s name is sung around the world.”