Maidstone United manager George Elokobi’s reaction following 3-1 National League South win over AFC Totton

George Elokobi spoke about choices before Maidstone faced AFC Totton - and his players responded.

The Stones bounced back from last week’s 4-2 defeat at Chesham by running out 3-1 winners at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday.

They remain ninth in National League South but their play-off hopes are alive, sitting two points outside the top seven with five matches remaining, although sides around them have games in hand.

“I’m focusing on us, I don’t look at what other teams are doing. At the end of the season, we’ll see where we are,” said Stones boss Elokobi.

“It’s important we keep driving the standards, keep doing things right and we go out and compete, and that’s what the boys have done.

“Last week we didn’t do that and we paid the price for it.

“But the players have worked really hard and they enjoyed it because I think they needed to get back to getting the basics right.

“I spoke about choices today. The choice to want to get in areas to hurt the opposition, what sort of passes we’re making, how do we press defensively, offensively, how do we run? How hard do we run in the areas that’s going to hurt the opposition?

“The players have gone out and done it.

“The starters did it and the supporting players off the bench have contributed massively for us to secure the three points.”

George Fowler’s first-half header was cancelled out by Christie Ward but substitute John Gilbert and Jephte Tanga earned a vital win for Maidstone.

Fowler’s first goal of the season was overdue - “I’ve been giving him some stick, so I’m delighted for him,” said Elokobi, who praised the defender’s run to meet TJ Bramble’s cross - but United had work to do after Totton levelled with 20 minutes remaining.

Elokobi’s substitutions paid off, however,