Maidstone United boss George Elokobi says Hemel Hempstead bench were trying to get Gavin Hoyte sent off at the end of their 1-1 draw in National League South

Maidstone boss George Elokobi defended his players following a full-time scuffle at Hemel - accusing the hosts’ bench of trying to get Gavin Hoyte sent off.

Skipper Hoyte - unhappy at an incident on the touchline during the game - made a beeline for the dugout as the final whistle went in yesterday’s 1-1 National League South draw.

Hemel player and former Stones team-mate Reece Grant did a sterling job of keeping Hoyte away but Elokobi felt the home bench were looking to goad Hoyte into a second yellow card.

A melee involving players from both sides followed before calm was restored.

“I won’t go into details but what I will not condone is the opposition trying to disrespect my team,” said Elokobi after United extended their unbeaten run to three games despite Bivesh Gurung’s second-half red card.

“They’re forgetting they’ve got to come back to ours and I’m sending it out there - they tried to get our captain sent off on purpose and I love the fact we were together on this.

“I back my team 100% and I make this clear to the league because the game is about respect.

“We compete fairly on the pitch but once the game is finished, people - management - they need to start understanding what respect is about.

“What happened is not a good advert for the National League.

“There’s a lot of young people - female and male - that were here watching this game and that’s not how a game should finish.

“Reece Grant was a peacemaker, he was trying to get Gavin away.

“When I walked over, I saw a few of their management team were after Gavin, to try and wind him up even more, because the referee was standing there watching.

“They wanted to try and get him sent off after the final whistle and what’s the point of it?

“I’m all for being hard on