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Maidstone United caretaker manager George Elokobi not intending to change much ahead of National League trips to Solihull Moors and Wealdstone

05:00, 03 March 2023

updated: 09:06, 03 March 2023

Caretaker boss George Elokobi doesn’t intend to change much ahead of back-to-back away fixtures for Maidstone.

After three matches at the Gallagher Stadium, Stones are back on the road, travelling to Solihull Moors this Saturday and Wealdstone on Tuesday.

Maidstone caretaker manager George Elokobi. Picture: Steve Terrell
Maidstone caretaker manager George Elokobi. Picture: Steve Terrell

Maidstone drew at home to both sides when they met in the league earlier this season.

Elokobi said: “We keep improving daily. We don’t change a lot.

“We always have a Plan A, we always have a Plan B and we always have a Plan C.

“If the Plan A doesn’t work, we’re not afraid to unleash Plan B. If Plan B doesn’t work, yes, we’ll look into Plan C.

“So there’s always a tactical game plan against good opposition.”

While the Stones head into their trip to Solihull on the back of two 1-1 draws against second-bottom Scunthorpe and Gateshead, the mid-table hosts are without a victory in five.

But Elokobi warned: “Every game is tough.

“We’re going to make sure our players start their recovery process. Then when we get our scouting reports back, we’ll prepare accordingly for tough opposition on Saturday in Solihull Moors.

“We’ll give them the respect they deserve with our preparation and make sure we try to compete.”

Skipper Jerome Binnom-Williams missed Maidstone’s game against Scunthorpe through injury, as Roarie Deacon took the armband.

Jerome Binnom-Williams missed Maidstone's midweek home game against Scunthorpe through injury. Picture: Steve Terrell
Jerome Binnom-Williams missed Maidstone's midweek home game against Scunthorpe through injury. Picture: Steve Terrell

Elokobi explained: “He took a slight knock on his calf. We don’t know the extent of it yet.

“The medical team are making sure they look after him, as they are with Regan Booty as well.

"We don’t want to rush our injured players and make them worse.

“We’ll take our time on those key players. But, at the same time, we trust the other group of players to come in and do a job for us.”

Versatile Sam Bone netted his first Stones goal in the first half of their encounter against The Iron, only for away captain Jacob Butterfield to swiftly hit back after the restart.

Bone’s long-range effort took a wicked deflection which wrong-footed ex-Gillingham keeper Aaron Chapman in the away goal.

Elokobi said: “I won’t say that’s luck.

"I’ll say, if you are in and around the box and you don’t shoot, then you don’t score.

“You have to be confident enough to pull the trigger when you are in and around the box. That’s exactly what he has done.

“He has got bags of ability and it’s good to see that he’s finally got that goal his performances deserve.

“He’s Mr Utility for us. He’s everywhere in terms of the dynamism that he brings to our squad, he’s quite versatile.

"It’s good for us to have him.”

Another to impress against Scunthorpe was on-loan Norwich goalkeeper Dan Barden, who made several saves, including some late ones, to help preserve a point.

“We want all our players to improve,” Elokobi said.

“We don’t want them to regress, we want them to progress.

“It’s important we look after each and every one. Dan had an excellent game.

“But it wasn’t just Dan, there was a squad of players that gave their all.”

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