United face Maidstone United for the second successive game, this time in the Emirates FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round tomorrow.
Gary Johnson’s men will be looking to avenge last weeks narrow home defeat by the Stones, and look to qualify for the FA Cup First Round Proper for the second season in a row.
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 victory against Worthing, where Maidstone recorded an impressive 4-0 home win, before last weeks trip to Plainmoor saw the Stones grab a 1-0 win thanks to a Sam Bone goal. In the FA Cup away wins over Stayning Town & Winchester City has seen George Elokobi’s team progress to today’s 4th Qualifying Round match, with today’s game seeing the winner going into the hat for the First Round proper draw on Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm on ITV1.
Played for both
Lucas Covolan arrived at Plainmoor in 2019 from Worthing having impressed Gary Johnson while on trial here. Covolan began his career in his home country of Brazil before being brought to the UK in 2016 by Whitehawk, where he played 23 games while also having a five match loan spell at Lewes. Worthing were his next port of call in 2017, and in a two year stay at the West Sussex club he made 59 appearances, before moving to the English Riviera in 2019 upon that successful trial with the Club.
The Brazilian shared the goalkeeping duties with Shaun MacDonald in his time here, but will always be fondly remembered for scoring THAT goal in the Play-Off Final against Hartlepool in 2021, and despite him also saving two of the penalties in the shoot out, it just wasn’t to be United’s fairytale ending. The 32 year old moved to Port Vale for two years upon him ending his time here at Torquay, and last season he also spent time at Chesterfield on loan, before his release from Vale Park has led him back to the National League South, this time with Maidstone United.
Player to watch
Michael Petrasso is a Canadian midfielder currently on loan at Maidstone from Canadian side York United until the end of the year. Petrasso came through the ranks at Q.P.R, and while making 11 appearances for the R’s in a five year stay, the midfielder also spent time on loan at Oldham Athletic, Coventry City, Leyton Orient & Notts County.
Upon his release from Loftus Road, Petrasso joined MLS side Montreal Impact before returning to his home country joining Valour FC in the Canadian Premier League, and then current side York9 (who later became York United) in January 2020. In October of 2020, the midfielder spent a season long loan at National League Barnet, before last month he came onto George Elokobi’s rader and signed on at the Gallagher Stadium until the end of 2023.
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.