George Elokobi backed goalkeeper Tom Hadler after his injury-time mistake in Maidstone’s defeat by Bromley. Hadler spilled a shot from Corey Whitely, with Louis Dennis pouncing on the loose ball to give the visitors a 3-2 National League win at the Gallagher Stadium on Tuesday night.
The big keeper hadn’t played since early January after suffering an elbow injury in training. He was back in the team with Dan Barden out injured and Yusuf Mersin out on loan at National South club Welling.
It wasn’t his night but Stones boss Elokobi was quick to stick up for his goalie after Maidstone's winless run reached 19 games. “Tom doesn’t need to say anything,” said Elokobi. “He’s done tremendous for us.
He’s come in in difficult circumstances in terms of us being short. “As you can tell, there wasn’t any keeper on the bench and he’s come from the cold to do a job for the team. “He did excellent in terms of what he did for us and he’s going to learn. “Is it going to be the first or the last time that happens?