Proud boss George Elokobi says it’s just the beginning for Maidstone following their FA Trophy exit.

The Stones were beaten 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw against National League play-off hopefuls Barnet.

Defeat in the last eight ended hopes of a first Wembley final for the club but Elokobi is looking at the bigger picture.

“It’s easy to pick our boys up,” said the Stones caretaker boss. “They don’t need picking up.

“We’ve just said to them in there, listen, you left everything on the pitch and this football club, everyone that’s connected to Maidstone United, is proud of each and every one of you.

“I’ve told them when they come out, to have their heads up because they’ve put in a shift-and-a-half for everyone at this football club today and we should be proud of that performance.

“Our fans, yes, they might be disappointed because the Wembley dream is over, but the dream is not over just yet. The dream is very much alive.

“This is just the beginning of Maidstone United Football Club and we will get better.

“It might take a bit of time but we will get better.

“Our players, each and every one of them, left everything on this pitch today for our football club and that’s all we need to remember now.”

Roarie Deacon gave Maidstone, hoping to reach the last four for the first time, a 15th-minute lead.

Barnet were 2-1 in front by half-time but Sol Wanjau-Smith’s Panenka penalty made it 2-2 as the National League strugglers - 13 points from safety after yesterday’s results - fought back.

• Report: Maidstone 2-2 Barnet (Bees win 4-3 on pens)

Wanjau–Smith hit the bar in the shoot-out and Jack Barham’s effort was saved as Barnet progressed.

Elokobi said: “The performance you saw out there was full of grit, it was full of fight, it was full of energy, it was full of quality.

“Each and every one of our players gave it their all out there, throwing their bodies on the line.

“They were warriors out there for us, like they’ve been throughout, so I’m absolutely thrilled with the way our players went about the Quarter-Finals.

“They operated from a fantastic tactical game plan from us, they took on board what we asked them to do and they executed it properly in terms of how we went about it from the tactical game plan.

“Barnet had to change their game plan, they had to change their shape to try and nullify us, so all credit to our boys for making sure that happened.

“Barnet’s a fantastic side. They are fifth in the league and for us to take them all the way to be separated by a penalty shoot-out, it’s all credit to what is in our changing room in terms of our personnel and what they can do on a given day.”