Maidstone United manager George Elokobi speaks of his admiration for understudy goalkeeper Lenny Holden after giving the ex-Leyton Orient youngster his first league minutes between the sticks

Maidstone manager George Elokobi made up his mind before the game to get understudy goalkeeper Lenny Holden involved at Farnborough.

Holden replaced Alexis Andre Jr in the 74th minute of the Stones’ 2-2 draw at Cherrywood Road on Saturday.

It was always the plan to reward the former Leyton Orient teenager for his efforts at the Gallagher Stadium this season.

Holden’s only previous National League South action came as an emergency centre-forward, also against Farnborough, in a 4-0 home win before Christmas.

This time he played in his natural position.

Maidstone went into the game looking to set a new league record for the most clean sheets in a season, having matched Newport’s 2009/10 tally of 23 in their Good Friday win at Welling.

An early Farnborough goal ended those hopes but Holden would have played regardless, such is Elokobi’s admiration for him.

“I know we were chasing the clean-sheet record but we had a discussion in the office and we said we were going to put him on, no matter the state of the game,” said the Stones boss.

“He thoroughly deserves it. He’s been ready and, to be honest, he’s one I want to keep for longer because he’s developed so well.

“It’s his attitude, his honesty, his selflessness.

“He’s always first in every morning, working on his skills and, as a manager, it’s a pleasure to work with a young player like that because then you earn your own luck in this game.

“You’ve got to work on your skills every single day and he does that.

“For me, I just admire him.

“As a person, he’s respectful, humble, he’s pushed Alexis, he’s learnt off Alexis and there’s still plenty of development to come.

“I haven’t got any issue with him going between the sticks and it’s important he takes all the positives out of