Ipswich Town 1-2 Maidstone United: Non-league side stun Championship high-flyers in FA Cup
Maidstone #Maidstone
Lamar Reynolds’s delicious first-half finish was Maidstone’s first attempt on goal and was his first goal in 26 appearances for the club
National League South side Maidstone United pulled off a huge FA Cup shock to knock Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town out of the fourth round at Portman Road.
Superb counter-attack strikes from Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne – Maidstone’s only attempts on target – earned the non-leaguers an astonishing victory over a side 98 places above them in the football pyramid.
A much-changed Ipswich side, who are second in the second tier and pushing for promotion to the Premier League, battered their opponents in the first half, hitting the woodwork three times and wasting numerous chances, but they somehow trailed to an exquisite dinked finish by Reynolds.
The stubborn resistance was finally broken when Jeremy Sarmiento’s low shot took a tiny, but telling, deflection to beat Stones keeper Lucas Covolan.
But Sam Corne’s composed finish restored the lead and Maidstone survived the inevitable frantic finish and eight minutes of stoppage time to become the first side from National League North or South to reach the last 16 since the regional split was introduced in 2004 and sparked joyous scenes.
Boss George Elokobi led those celebrations in front of around 4,600 travelling fans as the lowest ranked team left in this season’s competition revelled in their achievement and contemplated a place in the last 16.
Ipswich will argue the second Stones goal should have been ruled out for a foul in the build up and that George Edmundson was fouled in the penalty area after Corne’s strike.
And they will point to their utter first-half dominance, a total of 37 attempts on goal and an inspired display by Brazilian keeper Lucas.
But no one could argue with the character, grit and sheer resilience of Elokobi’s side who were so outclassed before the break.
Stones are the first team to win their first match in the competition against a side from the top-two leagues since Kidderminster Harriers beat Birmingham City in January 1994.
More to follow.
Line-upsIpswich
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Walton
12Ball40Tuanzebe4Edmundson30Humphreys
5Morsy14Taylor
20Hutchinson23Aluko21Sarmiento
33Broadhead
Substitutes
Maidstone United
Formation 4-3-3
1Covolan Cauagnari
2Hoyte5Fowler6Appiah14Kyprianou
8Corne7Berkeley-Agyepong15Bone
16Sole9Duku10Reynolds
Substitutes
Referee:Anthony Taylor
Attendance:27,273
Live Text
Match ends, Ipswich Town 1, Maidstone United 2.
Second Half ends, Ipswich Town 1, Maidstone United 2.
Attempt saved. Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Wes Burns with a cross.
Attempt saved. Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Conor Chaplin.
Hand ball by Sam Morsy (Ipswich Town).
Gerard Buabo (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Sam Corne (Maidstone United).
Attempt saved. Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Wes Burns with a cross.
Attempt missed. Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Leif Davis with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Manny Duku.
Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Harry Kyprianou.
Attempt blocked. Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Lucas.
Attempt saved. Wes Burns (Ipswich Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Sam Morsy.
Conor Chaplin (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Sam Corne (Maidstone United).
Foul by Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town).
Bivish Gurung (Maidstone United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Ipswich Town).