Maidstone United romped to victory at home to Littlehampton Town on Saturday booking their place in the next round of the FA Cup.

A hat trick from Frannie Collin, two goals from Ben Greenhalgh and goals from Sonny Miles,  Jack Parkinson,, Alex Flisher, Jay May and an unfortunate own goal gave Maidstone a record victory at the Gallagher stadium.

Maidstone welcomed Littlehampton Town to the Gallagher stadium for this FA Cup 1^st qualifying round match and they were dominant from the start, showing their league superiority. As early as the 5^th minute, Maidstone should have taken the lead, left back Tom Mills centre from the left found  James Rogers with a stooping header but the keeper made his first save of a busy first half clawing it behind for a corner.

Littlehampton offered very little and in the 12^th minute Maidstone took the lead. Alex Flisher was persistent in the left corner flag in winning the ball back, The ball fell to Matt Bodkin whose cross eventually found its way to Ben Greenhalgh, who turned and shot left footed into the top corner. From the restart, Maidstone could have made it two in as many minutes when Frannie Collin’s cutback found Jack Parkinson but he skewed his effort wide.

Maidstone were to extend their lead on 17 minutes when after some Littlehampton dallying in the penalty area, Tom Mills was bought down by Shane Wiggins. Frannie Collin duly slotted home the penalty to the keepers right. It really was a case of one way traffic as Flisher was the next to go close after good work from Bodkin and Collin.

Maidstone made it three in the 30^th minute when Matt Bodkin back heel down the left found Parkinson on the overlap, he charged to the byline and pulled back for Collin 6 yards out. His shot was blocked on the line but Greenhalgh was to grab his 2^nd of the game by firing in the rebound. It was wave after wave of attack for the home side with a cross from the left just evading Collin at the backpost before Collin ball to Flisher on the inside left forced a good save from the keeper.

Maidstone made it 4-0 after 41 minutes when a through ball towards Flisher was partially cleared by the keeper, his clearance only found Collin, who took a touch and fired in the volley into the empty net from 35 yards.

Maidstone were to make it 5 on the stroke of half time, when after some disastrous defending from the Littlehampton left back, Jack Parkinson stole in to make it 5.

Maidstone made it 6-0 two minutes into the second half. Alex Flisher ran from just inside the Littlehampton half, past two defenders before slotting underneath the advancing keeper into the bottom corner.

It was really was a case of men against boys. Littlehampton had a response of sorts with a couple of speculative shot from 30 yards that drifted wide of Lee Worgan’s left hand post. Lee Worgan was bought into a decent save soon after from Dan Swain from the edge of the area when his shot sent Worgan sprawling down to his left hand side.

Alex Flisher should have made it 7-0 in the 55^th minute when he was found from Bodkin’s left side cross 6 yards from goal but he inexplicably shot straight at the goalkeeper. Again , the stone s were to go close to extending their league. Bodkin slid through Collin one on one but the keeper guessed right by diving early down to his right hand side and made a one handed save.

Maidstone bought on Jay May and with his first touch, he made it 7-0 to the stones, curling in from the edge of the area when put through on goal Jay May was also to have a part in Maidstone’s 8^th a minute later, his shot was saved down to the keepers right and pushed behind for a corner. From the resulting corner, the ball evaded everyone and fell for Sonny Miles to volley home at the back post.

Maidstone made it 9-0 in the 70^th minute, Franny Collin was put through and rounded the keeper before his shot was put into his own net by defender Josh Bates to make the scoreline even more emphatic for the on fire home side.

There was to be some controversy 20 minutes from time when Steve Watt made a late challenge on the keeper after a Collin cross which caused a melle of players pushing and shoving in the goal, resulting in Dan Swain getting away with a booking when a red would surely have been the case if the score was closer.

Maidstone finally took their foot off the pedal and eased down with 10 mins left to play, slowing the game down to a walking pace but would again go close with Aaron Simpson firing into the side netting from distance after somme good build up play involving May and Flisher.

Maidstone would make it 10-0 and Frannie Collin would complete his hat trick with 5 minutes left. A Corner from the right was headed at goal and with the keeper making a hash of it, Collin poked home from 3 yards out to complete his hat trick and a very good day in the sun at the Gallagher stadium and Maidstone are most definitely in the hat for the next round.

 

Maidstone: Worgan, Pooley  (Simpson 45), Mills, Watt, Miles, Rogers, Bodkin, Parkinson ( Phillips 53), Greenhalgh ( May 61), Collin, Flisher.

Subs Not used: Phillips, Brown, Miller, May, Coyle, Simpson, Godmon.

Littlehampton: Hendrick, Wiggins, Hand, Bates, Mckay, Thompson, Humphries, Swain, Gaskin © ( Frangou 26), Landais, Kempson ( O’Callaghan 63).

Subs not used: Gray, Frangou, O’Callaghan, Kew, Packer, Greenfield, Davidson

Attendance: 1373