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.
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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.
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