Maidstone United earned themselves a place in the FA Cup First Round Proper with a hard fought victory against Bostik Premier Enfield Town.

Their reward is a trip to Cheltenham Town, currently 13th in English Football League 2.

Zavon Hines was the beneficiary of a horrible mistake by Darren Purse to give Maidstone a 47th minute lead.  But after Joe Wright continued his run of penalty saves, pushing Joe Pigott’s spot kick onto the bar, the Stones’ were stunned by a strike from Aaron Greene on 73.  Into extra-time and Maidstone’s superior fitness started to tell when Alex Finney stabbed the Stones’ back ahead on 103, with Jai Reason making the game safe six minutes later.

If being denied a win with the last kick of the game on Saturday had dented Enfield Town’s belief, they showed no sign of it as they flew out of the blocks at Maidstone from the kick-off.  The speedy Ryan Blake stung Lee Worgan’s palms within the first 50 seconds, before an unmarked Ryan Blackman swept a first time shot over the bar from 16 yards, almost capping off a swift move down the Enfield right.

It took Maidstone nearly 15 minutes to finally get into the game, with a one-touch passing move leading to a deft Joe Pigott cross that just evaded Tom Wraight’s late run into the 6-yard box from the left.

The Stones then enjoyed a purple patch in the middle of the half with 3 attempts in as many minutes.  Pigott picked up a flick from Wraight to drive into the area, between the challenges from Joe Wright and Dan Rumens, but was forced wide.  Pigott’s cross faded away from Wraight’s run, although a poor clearance allowed Pigott a tame shot on goal.  The big centre forward was involved in a six man one-touch passing move that cut through the Enfield midfield, with Delano Sam-Yorke curling a shot over from the edge of the box.

Enfield, although the home team, were still looking to hit the Stones on the counter-attack through the presence of Simon Thomas and Blake.  Aaron Greene almost picked up a quick freekick low into the box, but Alex Wynter reacted quickly to deflect his goalbound shot.

The Stones finally worked some space for Zavon Hines down the left hand side – Sam-Yorke flicking a pass into the winger’s path – and Hines rolled a pass into the path of Joe Anderson, whose shot was saved by Wright in the Enfield goal.

Maidstone took the lead for the first time across the two games, but the goal came from a horrendous mistake by 41-year old Enfield assistant manager Darren Purse.  The former Birmingham City defender trod on the ball allowing Pigott to release Sam-Yorke on the right side of the box.  The Enfield defence forced Sam-Yorke away from goal, but he clipped a cross back into the middle, where Hines was waiting to tap into the empty net.

Pigott was presented with the chance to double Maidstone’s lead after 65 minutes, with the Stones’ third penalty across the two games.  Stuart Lewis’ burst through midfield saw Hines pick up the ball on the edge of the box.  Hines stabbed the ball towards Sam-Yorke, who got a touch before being upended by Wright, with Mr Brook pointing to the spot.  After Hines’ travails from 12 yards at the weekend, Pigott stepped up but saw his shot pushed onto the bar as Wright dived to his left.

The game turned again on 73 as Enfield drew level on a counter attack from a Maidstone freekick.  A quick clearance fell to substitute Montell Moore who drove forward to the Maidstone box and saw his shot deflected to the left to Aaron Greene.  The left winger took a touch to steady himself and unleashed an unstoppable shot across Worgan into the side of the net.

Within seconds Enfield could have turned the game round as Greene again found himself in space, but this time on his right foot, Greene could only lift his shot high over the stand behind the goal.  Then Thomas, who got the opening goal on Saturday, backed into Alex Finney in the area, turned and saw his low shot kicked away by the alert Worgan to ensure the 90 minutes remained level.

Neither side seemed able to carve out a clear chance in the first period of extra-time.  But the Stones hit the front again with two minutes remaining as Hines’ deep corner dropped in front of Alex Finney who stabbed a volley through a cluster of Enfield players and into the net.

Enfield changed to a back three at the break, but were exposed by a teasing Jamar Loza run down the left.  Loza fed a pass into the path of substitute Jai Reason, who skipped past a weary looking Purse and hit a low shot across Wright for Maidstone’s third goal.

It could have been 4 as Maidstone hit a tired defence with a quick break.  Sam-Yorke fired a shot against the angle of post and bar, before the rebound came out to Reason, whose shot was deflected wide.

Loza and Pigott both had shots blocked away from the Enfield goal, and the game wound down with Lee Worgan applauding the decision of the award of the Enfield sponsor’s Man of the Match to his opposite number, Joe Wright,

ENFIELD TOWN: Joe Wright, Mickey Parcell (Montell Moore 67), Dan Rumens, Darren Purse, Taylor McKenzie (Drew Roberts 107), Adam Martin, Ryan Blackman, Sam Youngs (John Kyriacou 81), Ryan Blake, Simon Thomas, Aaron Greene.

Subs not used: George Quarrington-Carter, Ben Ward-Cochrane, Jack Hockney, George Beattie.

Goals: Aaron Greene 73

Cautions: Sam Youngs 40, Taylor McKenzie 72, Adam Martin 114

MAIDSTONE UNITED: Lee Worgan, Josh Hare, Alex Finney, Alex Wynter, Joe Anderson, Stuart Lewis, Ollie Muldoon (Reece Prestedge 55), Tom Wraight (Jamar Loza 79), Zavon Hines (Jai Reason 105), Delano Sam-Yorke, Joe Pigott.

Subs not used: Jack Paxman, Seth Nana Twumasi, Johan ter Horst, Jack Richards.

Goals: Zavon Hines 47, Alex Finney 103, Jai Reason 109

Cautions: Ollie Muldoon 29, Jamar Loza 115

Attendance: 820
Referee: Mr Carl Brook
Assistants: Mr Michael Ryan and Mr Dele Sotimirin
Fourth Official: Mr Chris Bodell