United face the first of two consecutive home games against Maidstone United, as the Kent club head to Plainmoor for the league encounter.
Gary Johnson’s men face one of the other relegated sides from last season tomorrow, as Maidstone United head to Plainmoor for the first of what are sure to be two very tight games.
Who’s the boss?
George Elokobi took charge of the Stones in a caretaker role following the departure of Hakan Heyrettin in January of 2023, and despite being unable to stop Maidstone from being relegated he was given the job on a permanent basis in March.
Elokobi’s career saw him begin at Colchester United, and while at the U’s he also had a brief loan spell at Chester. Wolverhampton Wanderers were his next club and in a six year stay at Molineux he helped them to promotion from the Championship and into the Premier League in the 2008/09 season, when they finished as champions. During his time at the Midlands club he also had spells on loan at both Nottingham Forest and Bristol City.
Upon his release from Wolves in 2014, the defender spent a season at Oldham Athletic, before he made a return to Colchester in 2015 for a two year stay. which also included a loan spell at Braintree. Leyton Orient and Aldershot were his next two clubs before he joined Maidstone in 2019, and after three years at the Kent club he announced his retirement from playing football.
How have they been doing?
Maidstone began the season with a 2-1 home win against Slough Town before suffering their first defeat away at Bath City where they lost 3-0. A 2-1 victory at Braintree Town was followed by three consecutive 1-1 draws against Yeovil Town, Hemel Hempstead Town & Taunton Town, before the Stones claimed a 3-2 win away at Weymouth.
A 1-0 home defeat to National League South new boys Aveley was next, which has proved to be the Kent sides last defeat as a 2-0 win at Chippenham Town was followed by a last league outing against Worthing, where Maidstone recorded an impressive 4-0 home win. In the FA Cup away wins over Stayning Town & Winchester City has seen George Elokobi’s team progress to the 4th Qualifying Round, where they will face Gary Johnson’s men here at Plainmoor next Saturday. Coming into this game Maidstone sit in 7th position with five wins, three draws and two defeats and have 18 points from their opening ten game
Played for both
Jacob Mensah came through the ranks at Ramsgate before going on to make over 70 league and cup appearances for the club. Moves to Crystal Palace, Weymouth and Morecombe followed, before he came to the attention of Maidstone United. From the Gallagher Stadium Mensah arrived here at Plainmoor last January making just three appearances for the Club, before upon his release from United this season has seen the defender head to the Kent coast where he is currently at Dover Athletic.
Player to watch
Levi Amatchi has scored six league goals in ten games so far for Maidstone, having joined the club from Brackley in the summer. Prior to the striker signing for the Stones, Amatchi has been at Chesterfield, Blyth Spartans (loan & permanent), Darlington, Workington AFC, Redditch, Potters Bar and Brackley.
Previous encounter
Torquay United 1 – 0 Maidstone United | National League | Saturday 28th January 2023
A single Aaron Jarvis goal was enough to see United take all three points against Maidstone United at Plainmoor. A tense encounter between two sides desperately striving for a crucial victory, was eventually settled in the closing stages, as as leading scorer Jarvis fired home in the 79th minute to seal victory for the Gulls.
Ticketing details for tomorrow’s fixture are available HERE, whilst live commentary of the full match will be available via TUFC Radio HERE.