Maidstone United manager George Elokobi’s reaction after 2-0 National League South play-off eliminator win at Worthing

George Elokobi said Maidstone needed to play the perfect game to beat Worthing in the National League South play-offs on Wednesday night.

The Stones boss saw his side, cheered on by 600 travelling fans in a crowd of almost 3,000, advance to the semi-finals thanks to a pair of Ben Brookes penalties.

Their 2-0 success in the eliminator sets up a trip to Eastbourne Borough on Sunday, with the winners taking on Torquay or Boreham Wood in the final later on May 18.

Maidstone finished seventh in the table, nine points behind the fourth-placed Rebels, who missed out on the league title on the final day of the season.

Worthing, who beat the Stones 2-1 in last season’s semi-finals, were favourites to progress but the visitors delivered a tactical masterclass.

“That was an outstanding performance from a group of players that went out there to play with freedom, to do it together,” said Elokobi, who described Brookes’ penalties as “tremendous”.

“It was gritty, the quality was there.

“Yes, we understand how Worthing play, but the game plan was executed by an honest group of players that knew exactly what the principles were, in and out possession, and on the transition what was needed.

“I saw a selflessness from each and every member of the Maidstone United squad out there, ensuring we come to a tough place and put in a tremendous performance.

“On nights like this you have to play the perfect game against a team that builds from the back.

Report: Worthing 0-2 Maidstone

“It was important that we press high but also we deny them pockets of space in the central areas and also in behind the defensive line, making sure they weren’t too deep but at the same time weren’t too high.

“It was managing the space, the movements, the