Maidstone pulled off one of the great upsets in FA Cup history after the National League South club stunned Ipswich, who are second in the Championship.
The sixth-tier side are 98 places below their opponents in the league pyramid and few gave them a chance of avoiding defeat. Maidstone weathered a first-half storm, with their goalkeeper, Lucas Covolan, outstanding throughout and they hit Ipswich with a huge sucker punch after Lamar Reynolds’s chipped goal just before half-time.
Normal service was expected to resume after Jeremy Sarmiento’s second-half equaliser. But Maidstone rocked Ipswich by reclaiming the lead through Sam Corne’s composed finish and George Elokobi’s heroic part-timers somehow kept out their desperate opponents, who had 38 attempts on goal.
Maidstone started their FA Cup run with a victory at Steyning all the way back in September. The club’s longest run in the competition – which has featured home victories against Barrow and Stevenage – was extended after this astonishing victory, achieved by converting their only two efforts on goal, booked their place in the fifth round for the first time.
Ipswich made a fast start. A cross from Omari Hutchinson was flicked back by Cameron Humphreys, but Nathan Broadhead’s close-range attempt was blocked by George Fowler. Maidstone had another escape with Sarmiento’s strike from the edge of the area rebounding off the post. Hutchinson’s follow-up was parried by Covolan.
Hutchinson, on loan from Chelsea, threatened again, with the winger cutting in from the right touchline, but his shot deflected off Corne and bounced to safety off the post. It was no exaggeration to suggest he Championship club could have scored three times in the opening 10 minutes, with Sone Aluko releasing Broadhead, but the striker’s low shot was saved by Covolan’s leg.
Ipswich continued to pepper the Maidstone goal and Hutchinson was denied, his curling shot pushed around the post by Covolan. The Brazilian goalkeeper was called into action again, reacting sharply to tip Sam Morsy’s long-range shot out for a corner.
There was no let-up from Ipswich and George Edmundson missed a glaring opportunity with the defender heading wide from in front of the goal from a corner.
Despite an avalanche of pressure on their goal, Maidstone made it through the first quarter of the contest without conceding.
Sarmiento launched into a run from his own half but the Ecuador winger’s strike was deflected to safety as Maidstone continued their dogged resistance. Ipswich missed another gilt-edged chance before the break with Aluko sidefooting wide from in front of the posts.
Maidstone had not laid a glove on their opponents but, incredibly, pounced for the opener with their first attempt. Liam Sole lofted a ball over the defence for Reynolds to run on to and the striker brilliantly chipped the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper Christian Walton for an extraordinary breakthrough and his first goal for the club.
Ipswich had 18 shots in the first 45 minutes to Maidstone’s sole attempt but Reynolds’s exceptional finish left them facing an uncomfortable second half.
The Ipswich fans were starting to become restless but their nerves were calmed with the equaliser. Jack Taylor played in Sarmiento and the attacker cut inside before drilling a low shot past the despairing dive of Covolan.
Maidstone were not finished, though, and they struck back superbly with another clinical finish. Reynolds turned provider this time, releasing Corne, and the midfielder tucked his effort – scoring for the third successive round – past Walton to spark a frenzy of celebration in front of almost 4,500 Stones supporters.
Wes Burns went close from the right edge of the area but blasted past the post to add to the home team’s frustration. Ipswich wanted a penalty when Edmundson went down in the area under a challenge from Manny Duku but the defender was booked by the referee, Anthony Taylor, for a dive.
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Ipswich were starting to run out of time and the substitute Conor Chaplin snatched at a shot from the edge of the area that was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper. Chaplin again came close from a header but Covolan, enjoying the game of his life, managed to palm the ball off the line. Ipswich were becoming desperate but Covolan continued to defy them by brilliantly repelling Burns’s shot.
There were eight minutes of injury time for Ipswich to avoid an embarrassing exit but they simply could not break down the granite-like Stones, sparking euphoric celebrations from the non-league heroes.
