Having been an avid spectator in the 2nd round when my hometown side beat League Two’s Barrow to make the third round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1988 (and the first time since the club was relaunched), I was determined to be at the Gallagher for today’s tie with Stevenage Borough. An unlikely win today would see Maidstone into the 4th round of the FA Cup for the first time and in with a chance of a lucrative tie against one of the Premier League or Championship’s big sides.

Stevenage, managed by Steve Evans, came into the tie in seventh place in League 1, some 67 places above Maidstone United, who sit fourth in National League South. There was a sell out crowd of 4024, at the Gallagher Stadium, eager to see how George Elokobi’s in-form team would fare against a high quality league opposition.

The game kicked off with the home team making much of the early play, as the pace of Sol Wanjau-Smith and the delicate footwork of Lamar Reynolds proved difficult for the away defence.

As the break looked large Maidstone United had begun to ride their luck, as the effort of the relentless work of the first half began to show, with Stevenage’s Jake Forster-Caskey and Louis Thompson creating chances that just needed a finish.

Then in the 42nd minute the skilful Jacob Berkely-Agyepong was pulled down in the box by Louis Thompson, which gave the home side a penalty. Sam Corne stepped up and boldly fired his kick past the reaches of Taye Ashby-Hammond to send the Gallagher Stadium wild and put the Stones into an unlikely lead.

The second half saw the away side use their superior fitness and league experience as they threw everything at a progressively tiring Maidstone United side. Covolan in the Maidstone goal pulled off two world class saves at point blank range to deny chances for Jamie Reid, before Kane Hemings struck the bar.

Despite a very nervous last ten minutes, at fulltime it was Maidstone United whose fans were celebrating, as the National League South side made the fourth round for the first time. Manager George Elokobi celebrated with the fans at full time on what was a historic day for Maidstone.