Maidstone and Yeovil fans throw objects and make threats at each other as tensions boil over during the National League South clash.
It was back to league action for the Stones following on from their FA Cup last weekend in which they beat Championship side Ipswich Town.
And it seems George Elokobi’s side are keeping to their good form, winning 2-1 against the Glovers, who are 10 points clear at top of the table.
Maidstone were ahead after 12 minutes, Muhammadu Faal poaching home from close range following an initial header from Reiss Greenidge being denied by keeper Joe Day.
Then with 20 minutes played, terrific work from Lamar Reynolds on the left saw the ball crossed for Matt Rush who nodded in from 6 yards out to extend Maidstone’s lead.
Dylan Morgan grabbed what ended up being a consolation goal for Yeovil with 15 minutes remaining.
As can be seen below, it all got a bit heated with Maidstone and Yeovil fans sharing a stand with Yeovil fans attempting to cross the Genco Stand segregation line.
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Maidstone are 16 points behind leaders Yeovil, with 16 games left to play out.
Maidstone: Covolan, Brown, Fowler, Greenidge, Sole (Ezennolim 77mins), Bone, Corne, Berkeley-Agyepong (Tanga 61mins), Reynolds, Rush, Faal (Duku 64mins). Subs not used: Earle, Gurung.
Yeovil: Day, Foulston, Williams, Whittle, Wannell, Worthington, Blu Lo-Everton, Nouble, Pearson (Thomas 65mins), Owers (Morgan 57mins), Young (Fisher 89mins. Subs not used: Dawes, Stevens.
Referee: Dane McCarrick.
Attendance: 3,119 (252 away).
Yeovil issued a statement before the two sides met, saying: “Everyone at Yeovil Town greatly appreciates your fantastic support throughout this season, which has been instrumental in our success. However, we need to address a crucial matter regarding behaviour at away games.
“While your enthusiasm is valued, there have been instances where conduct has risked the club facing fines. We understand emotions can run high, but we must ensure our actions reflect the values of sportsmanship and respect.
“We kindly request your cooperation in maintaining positive support within acceptable boundaries. Let’s continue to show our passion for Yeovil Town with pride and dignity.
“Additionally, as we continue our journey towards promotion, your unwavering support is more important than ever. Together, let’s rally behind the Glovers and propel them towards greater success.
“Thank you for your ongoing support.”
You’re fans are a disgrace after the statement you put out yesterday they should be banned pic.twitter.com/aJIIMyh1Ei
— KEVIN GRAVENELL (@elliott9kev) February 3, 2024
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You could start with banning this dopey old fool, who spent his afternoon threatening children pic.twitter.com/JbCHFHQCxT
— Oliver Quick (@wedenning1900) February 4, 2024
Maidstone boss George Elokobi said, as per KentOnline: “We know who’s leading at the moment and we’ve just got to take it one game at a time and not look too far ahead.
“There’s plenty of points to play for at this stage of the season.
“We’ve won today but it doesn’t give us six points, it gives us three points in the right direction and we’ve got to take that and look forward to our next game against Torquay on Tuesday.
“We need to make sure at this stage of the season we don’t look at anyone but just concentrate on Maidstone United and the opposition we’re coming up against game by game.
“The end of the season will tell us where we are but we just want to make sure we go into every game and try to get maximum points and we’ll see where that takes us come the end of the season.
“For now, we’ve got to enjoy the victory.
“Yeovil is a fantastic side – Mark Cooper is a seasoned pro at this.
“We’ve played them twice now and taken four points out of six so that’s very important. We’re heading in the right direction.”
Yeovil boss Mark Cooper said, as per BBC Somerset and Gloverscast: “We didn’t compete in our box. We were really soft in our box. We’ve been defensively really good. But today, our back line, goalkeeper, defenders, we didn’t compete in our box. We didn’t head the ball, we weren’t authoritative and we let them dominate our penalty area. That was the difference between the two teams.”
“It’s been creeping in. I had a nibble on Tuesday night about it. We conceded a soft goal on Tuesday night for not defending our box. Two centre halves jumped into each other. And today was a culmination of the last couple of games, we’ve been a little bit soft In our penalty area. That might be a knock on effect from the players we are missing but the boys that were out there, we had enough.
“Full credit to Maidstone. They were physically better than us today. We can blame it on the coach breaking down. We can blame our injuries, but Maidstone, physically, today were better than us for a 20 minute spell. The second-half, you know, we have to go for it. We get back into it, could draw at the end, but they probably deserved to win.”
Yeovil were without Rhys Murphy, Jake Hyde, Michael Smith and Charlie Cooper, but still felt his side should have had enough to be competitive.
“We didn’t really stick to our identity. We’re missing key players, which I can blame, and I think you can see when you take those players out of our team we’re totally, totally different. But we still should have enough to be able to be competitive – certainly physically. It doesn’t matter about ability, if you’ve got a man in the penalty area and he gets in front of you and scores the goal, that’s just a desire and a will to do your job.”
Twitter users reacted as Maidstone and Yeovil fans throw objects and make threats at each other as tensions boil over…
@MajesticJJM: More pyros than goals good effort
@Lindsey81310983: Disgusting behaviour from some of the Yeovill fans! Fully grown men having a go at my two sons, who are 12 and 15 and Maidstone fans and offering them out! You should be disgusted with yourselves. Big Men!
@Glove_Actually: Not making any excuses, but the set up at Maidstone is very poor with both sets of fans side by side. But the week before we had no segregation or trouble at St Albans. A lot depends on who is in attendance and their reasons for being there!!
@justafan1m: We’ve not also had much trouble with other sets of fans, just yours it seems like…funny that 🤔 As soon as you lot went a goal down you started. Grown men offering out kids and throwing pyros – absolutely pathetic.
@johnadams1975: I said exactly the same yesterday. I hope Maidstone look at their Segregation set up, fine when playing teams who only bring a few fans as they have to just take the abuse. You will have far more trouble if/when you get promoted back up and I don’t think would meet EFL regs.
@LeClique_du606: Why were Yeovil fans threatening children in and outside the ground? Why were fireworks thrown into the home end from the away fans? Why were a bunch of inbred things allowed to carry on like this?
@PeersAmie: @YTFC Fans leaving my kids in tears and terrified after starting fights and throwing shit after the #maidstone game. Absolutely disgusting. Nearly trampling a 6year old hope you’re proud. #yeoviltownfc #yeovil
@LawlessTony: Hope they are OK! (Some) of the Yeovil fans were terrible inside and outside the ground and no one should have to put up with their behaviour when going to a football match! I think the police should start to keep away fans in ground for a bit after games until safe to let out!
@ME8Gills: I see that Maidstone fans sang songs about a dead Yeovil player yesterday but got upset when the Yeovil fans decided to retaliate outside.
@skyhigh20002: Both sets of fans had groups who were to blame not just Yeovil
@mountflynn: As a @Ytfc fan taking my young boys to matches I would like to apologise to you and I hope your little lad is ok. That behaviour is unacceptable.
@PhillipYTFC: Throwing coins at the Yeovil fans and making fun of our dead captain, you all deserve it dirty scum club
@DavidKennedy69: Good Ol Yeovil. Sadly, some village idiots follow the glory hunting atm. Bad press is not a great look for the town. I hope the little kid is alright!
@JacobHarry_17: Both Yeovil and Maidstone fans were wankers this afternoon, let’s not blame each other here #YTFC
@ChappsRyan2000: Mocking the death of Lee Collins I think has a big part to play.. blame is well and truely in their court
@JacobHarry_17: I agree it was disgusting and unnecessary, however it all started well before that
@caijut1094: Maidstone fans throwing coins classy as always 😂😂 #ytfc
@bailey_0608: yeovil fans crying and getting rattled by 16 year olds 🤣
@hastiepops: Yeovil fans throwing flares at kids classy as always
Agree with this 100%. When we walked in you could see groups who had gathered right along the divide who were looking to cause trouble. Stewards focused only on YTFC fans and done nothing to stop the others.
— Nick (@skyhigh20002) February 4, 2024
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