Maidstone stun Ipswich as Sam Corne seals FA Cup shock for the ages

Maidstone United pulled off one of the great upsets in FA Cup history after the National League South club stunned the Championship promotion challengers Ipswich to reach the fifth round.

The sixth-tier side sit almost 100 places below their opponents in the English pyramid and few gave them a chance of avoiding defeat at Portman Road. Maidstone weathered a first-half storm of pressure, with the goalkeeper Lucas Covolan outstanding throughout, but they hit Ipswich with a suckerpunch just before half-time, Lamar Reynolds chipping in the opener.

Normal service was expected to resume after Jeremy Sarmiento’s second-half equaliser for the team sitting second in the Championship. But Maidstone rocked Ipswich again by reclaiming the lead through Sam Corne’s composed finish and George Elokobi’s heroic team somehow kept out their desperate opponents to achieve the most unlikely of victories.

Maidstone started their FA Cup run with a victory at Steyning Town all the way back in September and the club’s longest run in the competition was extended after this astonishing victory booked their place in the last 16 for the first time.

Ipswich made 10 changes from the team that snatched a draw at the Championship leaders, Leicester, on Monday night. The centre-back George Edmundson was the only player to keep his place while Sarmiento, on loan from Brighton, started after scoring the late equaliser at the King Power Stadium.

Maidstone made five changes from the team that drew against Braintree on Tuesday with the former Arsenal defender Gavin Hoyte captaining the side. Manny Duku was handed his first start after the Dutch striker joined following a spell playing in Gilbraltar for Manchester 62.

Maidstone United’s Lamar Reynolds chips in the opener. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

Ipswich made a fast start and a cross from Omar Hutchinson was flicked back by Cameron Humphreys but Nathan Broadhead’s close-range attempt was blocked by George Fowler. Maidstone had another escape shortly afterwards: Sarmiento’s strike from the edge of the area rebounded off a post and 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 a post. It was no exaggeration to suggest the 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 with his curling strike pushed around a 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 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. Morsy, the Ipswich captain, was next to fire in an effort but his shot from distance rose over the crossbar.

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 to open the scoring before the break with Aluko sidefooting wide from in front of goal.

Maidstone had not laid a glove on their opponents but pounced for the opener with their first attempt of the tie. 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’ exceptional finish left the Championship promotion contenders 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.

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Conor Chaplin, introduced as a substitute, almost made an immediate impact but fired his shot over the bar from Leif Davis’s free-kick.

Maidstone were not finished, though, and the sixth-tier club struck back superbly to stun Ipswich with another clinical finish. Reynolds turned provider this time as he released Corne and he tucked his effort past Walton to spark a frenzy of celebrations in front of almost 4,500 Stones supporters.

Maidstone United’s Lamar Reynolds (centre) celebrates after opening the scoring. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

Wes Burns, another Ipswich substitute, went close from the right edge of the area but blasted past a post to add to the home team’s frustration.

Ipswich wanted a penalty when Edmundson went down in the area under a challenge from Duku but the defender was booked by the referee Anthony Taylor for a dive.

The Championship club were starting to run out of time and Chaplin snatched at a shot from the edge of the penalty area which was comfortably saved by Covolan. Chaplin again came close from a header but Covolan, enjoying the game of his life, managed to palm the ball off the line.

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Ipswich were becoming desperate but Covolan continued to defy them, with the goalkeeper brilliantly repelling Burns’ strike.

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 to spark euphoric celebrations from the non-league heroes.