Two goals from Frannie Collin saw Maidstone United pull off an FA Cup shock and book their place in the Second Round.
“Croeso I Wrecsam”, or “Welcome to Wrexham” awaits Maidstone United after another heroic display to earn a 2-1 win and knock out League Two Stevenage on a memorable night of ‘firsts’ at The Gallagher Stadium.
The first time that the Stones have appeared live before the TV lights, and the first time that a 3G pitch has been used in the FA Cup Proper, were mere sidelines to Frannie Collin’s brace; the second possibly from an offside position. The Ryman Premier side now progress into Round 2 for the first time since reforming in 1992.
Jay Saunders, the Maidstone manager, was understandably emotional at the final whistle, and said, “I think that sums up the lads in there, the attitude was outstanding. We got off to a dream start with the early goal, but I wasn’t happy with the way we conceded.”
“To be fair, it was the first time we allowed them time around the box and we got punished. Then Stevenage had a 10-15 minute spell where they dominated, and I was worried, but we found another gear and kicked on.”
“I’m absolutely delighted for them, they deserve everything they got tonight and over the two games, deserved the win. They defended well and gave everything.”
“The winning goal happened so quick – I think there was a hint of offside about it – but sometimes you don’t get that luck. Over the two games we’ve earned that bit of luck.”
“When Frannie came off, I said I thought it was Jay (with the header), and he thought I was winding him up. I didn’t see the finish, but it was a great ball in and you just hope someone will put their head on it.”
“Ben is capable of getting into those areas and putting the ball in. Jay was winning a lot, so I thought he might have a chance, but Frannie has finished it off.”
“Stevenage were gracious and congratulated us, for a Ryman team to do what we have, put on the performances, is full credit to the lads. I was worried that we may have missed our chance after one-on-ones in the first game, but we’ll enjoy tonight.”
“When I took over, with the ground-share at Sittingbourne, nights like this seemed a million miles away, so this is for everyone who has made it possible; Terry (Casey), Oliver (Ash), everyone.”
“The crowd really got behind us. The noise when the two goals went in was amazing, and even in the spell where Stevenage got at us, they kept singing the lads through. It was an amazing atmosphere.”
If anyone had thought that Stevenage had seen the best that Maidstone could give in the 0-0 draw at Broadhall Way, they were stunned within 70 seconds as Frannie Collin gave the home side a lead.
Alex Flisher flicked a long clearance by Lee Worgan into the path of Jay May. May took a touch and hit a shot to the left of Chris Day that the keeper could only steer to the side of the goal, and before the keeper could cover his line, Collin had followed in to finish from a narrow angle.
The roar that greeted the goal was on a par with the noise from the 1,400 Maidstone fans who travelled to Stevenage, and the visitors looked visibly rattled.
Matt Bodkin drilled a crossfield ball for May to direct a header through to Flisher, but Ronnie Henry recovered to head back to Day. Then, May was shepherded wide by Dean Wells as he tried to latch onto Collin’s deft through ball.
Jamie Coyle and Lee Barnard were cautioned in the 15th minute as Maidstone tried to show they wouldn’t be intimidated. But Barnard almost had the last laugh; first outpacing Tom Mills to get a cross in from the right.
The ball was only half-cleared to Simon Walton on the edge of the box whose mis-hit shot flew onto the head of Barnard, with Worgan having to make a good save by his left post.
Ex-Gill Chris Whelpdale fired a shot wildly over the Loucas End, and Henry had to recover his position to deny Flisher again. From the resulting corner, Day somehow managed to punch the ball over his own bar.
The open game continued as Walton found Barnard in the Maidstone area. Barnard’s first touch let the ball run to Roarie Deacon, who had hit the post late on in the first game, and Deacon’s first time shot was well saved low to his right by Worgan.
Just after the half hour, Sonny Miles played a ball towards May, whose header was picked up on the left edge of the area by Flisher. The Maidstone winger turned Henry and drilled a low ball into the 6-yard box, where Darius Charles somehow managed to slice the ball up and over his own bar.
The remainder of the half became a midfield battle, with neither side able to create a clear chance, and Stevenage manager, Graham Westley, would have been glad of the half-time whistle.
Whatever Westley said at the interval had an immediate effect as the visitors levelled within 90 seconds of the restart. A free kick on the right wing was slipped forward to Charlie Lee, whose 2nd attempt at a cross fell to Charles in the area.
The ex-Ebbsfleet defender connected sweetly with a right foot volley that flew into the right corner beyond Worgan’s reach.
For the next 15 minutes, Stevenage controlled possession with Maidstone content to counter attack. Deacon drifted in off the left wing and fired a shot across Worgan’s goal, and Coyle found himself free in the Stevenage area, but his shot was parried away by Day.
Coyle, leading the side in place of the injured Steve Watt who had put in an immense performance at Stevenage, had his own defensive moment on 56, as he towered above 3 Stevenage forwards to clear away a dangerous Deacon cross.
Maidstone were showing a threat on the counter, with Bodkin’s cross w headed down to May, but the forward couldn’t turn to get a shot away. At the other end though, Whelpdale fired in a shot that Worgan held well above his head, and Barnard almost beat a high defensive line, only for the offside flag to make Tom Mills’ superb sliding tackle and clearance irrelevant.
As in the first game, Stevenage created their best chances in the closing 10 minutes, but both were wasted. Henry’s cross found Lee unmarked 14 yards out, but the former Gillingham midfielder couldn’t direct his header on target.
Then Whelpdale’s run from the right wing was perfectly timed, but his shot deflected away off Worgan’s left leg.
Maidstone made Stevenage pay for their profligacy in front of goal, although Collin’s finish did appear to be from an offside position.
Ben Greenhalgh picked up the ball in the middle of the Stevenage half and burst past two players to the left edge of the area. Greenhalgh’s cross found Collin unmarked in the 6-yard box and the forward buried his header past Day for his 16th goal of the season.
During stoppage time, the Stones were content to play keep-ball in the corner, frustrating their opponents, and as a measure of the relief of all present, the final whistle was greeted by the customary pitch invasion.
The only downside on a night of celebrations for the Stones was a booking for Jack Parkinson, which means the midfielder is likely to miss the Wrexham match on 6th December.
FULL TIME: MAIDSTONE UNITED 2-1 STEVENAGE
The Stones must now switch their attention back to Ryman Premier League action on Saturday as they face a trip to Met Police, but must surely have one eye on their Second Round tie at Wrexham and another giantkilling.
MAIDSTONE UNITED: Lee Worgan, Aaron Simpson, Tom Mills, Jamie Coyle ©, Sonny Miles, James Rogers, Matt Bodkin (Ben Greenhalgh 78), Jack Parkinson, Jay May, Frannie Collin (Alex Brown 89), Alex Flisher.
Subs not used: Bradley Jordan, Charley Robertson, Richard Davies, Alfie Kitt, Will Godmon.
Goals: Frannie Collin 2 & 88.
Bookings: Jamie Coyle 15, Jack Parkinson 90, Ben Greenhalgh 94.
STEVENAGE: Chris Day, Ronnie Henry ©, Dean Wells, Jerome Okimo (Bira Dembele 80), Darius Charles, Chris Whelpdale, Charlie Lee, Simon Walton, Dave McAllister (Jack Jebb 90), Roarie Deacon (Charlie Adams 80), Lee Barnard.
Subs not used: Sam Beasant, Jon Ashton, Andy Bond, Tom Pett.
Goal: Elliott Charles 47.
Bookings: Lee Barnard 15, Roarie Deacon 62.
Attendance: 2,226
Referee: Mr Simon Hooper
Assistants: Mr William Bull and Mr Andrew Laver
4th Official: Mr Michael Bull
Pictures supplied by www.psp-images.co.uk