George Elokobi’s verdict on Maidstone United’s 2-1 defeat by promotion rivals Worthing at the Gallagher Stadium

George Elokobi praised Maidstone in defeat after his side threw everything at Worthing in search of an equaliser.

United lost 2-1 to their promotion rivals in an entertaining clash at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday.

The result saw them drop to fifth in a National League South title race that’s looking tighter than ever.

The four teams above the Stones - Boreham Wood, Torquay, Worthing and Eastbourne - are locked on 52 points.

Maidstone are just a point behind and have a chance to go top, for 24 hours at least, at Chelmsford on Monday night.

Temi Eweka headed the hosts in front against Worthing but then scored an own goal before Mo Faal won it on his return to the Gallagher.

The Stones bossed the second half but couldn’t equalise, with the damage done in the opening 45 despite taking a fourth-minute lead.

“I have to give credit to the boys for how we attacked the second half in terms of the game strategy,” said boss Elokobi.

“I thought it was a fast start out of the blocks, we got a goal and then we sort of sat back on it and allowed them little spaces and pockets that they like to play on.

“I thought the distances, we were two yards off in the first half and that gave them a bit of confidence and that’s how they play.

“But in the second half it was a completely different game. There was one team in the game and it’s important that we learn from this.

“How we conceded the two goals was disappointing.

“Obviously I don’t want to single out players but we’ve got to work hard to nullify Worthing’s strengths.

“We said they were going to do things fast out of the blocks, so we can’t allow them to build from free-kicks, corners, we have to stop them and force them to go over us, but we allowed them to play around us and