Maidstone United boss George Elokobi reacts to club’s first home National League South victory of the season, winning 1-0 against Hemel Hempstead Town

Boss George Elokobi was pleased with the amount of unselfish work on display from Maidstone’s players as they earned their first home league win this season on Saturday.

The Stones battled to a hard-fought 1-0 National League South victory at the Gallagher Stadium against play-off occupants Hemel Hempstead Town through loanee midfielder Jon Benton’s first-half goal.

Maidstone earned their first home league win this term at the seventh attempt despite naming a reshuffled backline, with George Fowler ill and Raphe Brown also absent.

“I don’t want to single out any players,” said Elokobi, who saw his side extend sixth-placed Hemel’s winless run to seven matches in all competitions. “All credit to the squad, including the ones that weren’t involved today.

“To win a football match, especially here at the Gallagher, it has to take the entire squad - in terms of being resilient, in terms of the small details and in terms of the selfless work for the team - and we saw plenty of that.

“Credit to Hemel. I think Bobby (Wilkinson, their manager) is doing a fantastic job and they have had a flying start to the season.

“So we knew what we were coming up against from the scouting reports and having analysed all their strengths and weaknesses. But also, in terms of their restarts - long throws, corner kicks and free-kicks - ensuring we give extra little detail to our group of players.

Report: Maidstone 1-0 Hemel Hempstead Town

“We have been working on that throughout the week. It’s been a fantastic week of preparation.

“That’s all respect that we have paid to Hemel because they’re a good side. They pose you problems you need to solve and you need to solve them in key moments in the game.

“I thought our group of players were