It took 120 minutes and fourteen penalties, but Maidstone United advance into the First Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup, where a home tie against Southend United awaits.

Where this match will be played is yet to be decided as the FA have ruled that all future rounds of the competition must be played on a grass pitch – despite the obvious problems this will bring as winter approaches.

Josh Woolley’s clean strike gave the Stones’ the lead with nineteen minutes remaining, but Sutton’s Ben Cotton equalised from the penalty spot nine minutes later.  With no further score in extra time, the game would be decided from 12 yards at the Loucas End of the ground, and although Maidstone cracked first when Toby Young brilliantly saved Josh Algar’s kick, neither Cotton nor Jack Lewis could convert their efforts for the visitors.

Maidstone’s manager, Jack Parkinson, was rightfully proud of his side that had outplayed a Sutton United side that is yet to concede a goal in their league programme.  He said “it’s not a nice way to either win or go out, because it’s horrible for the poor lad that misses.  Overall, and I’m sure everyone would agree, I thought we did enough over not only the 90 minutes, but all 120, and created enough chances to win two or three games.  I’m really pleased for the boys.”

“I’m not one to have penalties practised in training as you cannot replicate the pressure.  Out there, there’s a big crowd and you know what is at stake.  I just asked for volunteers, I’m not going to force it on them, and six or seven walked over and said they wanted to take one.  There was no pressure from me, I just said make sure you work the keeper, stick to your side and don’t change your mind.  Josh (Algar) was unfortunate to miss, but I thought the rest were superb.”

“I thought Josh Woolley, starting his first game for us up front was outstanding, but I thought as a team we looked solid, moved the ball really well, created a lot of chances, but one mistake has nearly cost us.  To think they’ve really only had one shot of note on target, so the boys have had to go through 120 minutes.”

“It’s a massive credit to the boys.  They work really hard during the week, it has helped that they’ve had a week off, and it showed as our lads seemed to get stronger.  While their boys went down with cramp, we were still creating chances right up to the final whistle in extra time.”

Although Sutton United’s first team play one league above Maidstone, it was the Stones who created the first chance, as Josh Algar found space on the edge of the Sutton area, but pulled his volley wide.  In the early stages, it was Maidstone who played the more fluent football, using the wings, whereas Sutton’s only gameplan seemed to be to hit long balls up to the seemingly tireless Emil Salama.

Josh Woolley was always a threat, almost latching onto Regan Payne’s cross-shot, then curling an effort at Toby Young in the Sutton goal.  Maidstone’s movement had Sutton’s players chasing shadows as chances were created for Ross Bassan and Dan Parkinson, but neither could get a shot on target to test Young.  Sutton’s only chance came from a weak Ben Cotton shot that didn’t test Will Godmon.

Within 90 seconds of the restart, Jack Sullivan glanced a header wide, and with more potency in their attacking play, Woolley saw an effort skim the bar.  But it seemed that every time a Maidstone player was about to fire goalward, there was a Sutton defender throwing themselves in the way.

The breakthrough came on 71 minutes for Woolley.  Charley Robertson, who was having a frustrating night, found space on the right wing to put a ball into the area.  Although it was dropping behind him, Woolley was composed enough to control and turn in one motion, before firing into the left side of the net.

Having only had one shot on target in the match, and rarely looking like putting a dangerous ball into the box, Sutton found an equaliser nine minutes later, albeit with a bit of help from a moment of madness from Lee Pleau.  A long crossfield ball by Cashel Wing bounced awkwardly off Sullivan, and Pleau tried to head the rebound back towards Godmon.  As the two Maidstone players hesitated, Michael Rouse nipped in and looked as though he would challenge Godmon, until Pleau shouldered Rouse out of the way.  Ben Cotton stepped up to confidently fire the ball beyond Godmon’s dive.

Robertson and Algar both saw shots fly past the woodwork, but Maidstone’s best chance came in stoppage time.  Sullivan launched a long diagonal ball into the area, where Dan Parkinson, arriving late, somehow diverted his header off the outside of the post.

Into extra-time, and Maidstone continued to dominate.  Sullivan fired a freekick that didn’t quite swerve back far enough to find the left post, and both Bassan and substitute Dom Lelliott saw weak shots held by keeper Young.  In reply, Salama, who was suffering with cramp throughout the extra periods, had a weak effort held by Godmon.

Pleau had a header blocked off the line by Tim Carnell, and Cotton fired a vicious freekick inches wide of the Maidstone goal with Godmon stranded.  Sullivan also saw a header tipped over by Young late on, but as the players tired, the game seemed destined for penalties.

Sutton went first, and the first three to step up found the net comfortably.  Young and Godmon got hands to the next respective kicks but couldn’t keep the ball out of the net.  Josh Algar though saw Young fly to his left to pull off a two-handed save, although the ball was at the perfect height for the ex-Chelsea 16-year old.

Cotton, who had looked comfortable with his kick in normal time, seemed to be intimidated by the crowd at the Loucas End and pulled his kick wide, allowing the score to be level at four apiece after the first five penalties.  Carnell and Parkinson exchanged successful kicks, before Jack Lewis’ effort cleared the stand, allowing Robertson to power the fourteenth kick home, and send Maidstone into the First Round Proper.

Looking forward, Parkinson explained that “this means a hell of a lot to the boys and it gives them a chance to show a League side what they are all about.  We were devastated to get knocked out last year, and I thought we could have a real go this year.  We’ve now got Southend.  It doesn’t really matter where the game is played, for the boys a pitch is a pitch, but it’s always nice to have the home advantage, the crowd cheering you on; it just gives the lads an opportunity.”

“I wouldn’t count us out just yet; we’ve played them in the past and we’ve played a lot of academies from League clubs and I really fancy our chances against them.  Hopefully, wherever the game is played, we can get a crowd out in force and I like to think the boys have got enough about them to get through.”

MAIDSTONE UNITED: Will Godmon, Jack Sullivan ©, Dan Johnson, Dan Parkinson, Lee Pleau, Ashley Long, Josh Algar, Ross Bassan (Liam King 110), Josh Woolley, Regan Payne (Dom Lelliott 86 (Aidan Hayes 120)), Charley Robertson.

Subs not used: Ben Swift, Steve Lawrence.

Goal: Josh Woolley 71.

Penalties Scored: 1- Liam King, 2- Aidan Hayes, 4- Lee Pleau, 5- Jack Sullivan, 6- Dan Parkinson, 7- Charley Robertson.

Penalty Missed: 3- Josh Algar.

Bookings: Josh Algar 74, Jack Sullivan 103.

SUTTON UNITED: Toby Young, Cashel Wing, David Lodge, Reece Hannigan, Jack Lewis, Joshua Meek (Junior Evbota 86), Michael Rouse © (Nadean Fosu 90), Ben Cotton, Emil Salama, Joshua Kaddu (Tim Carnell 73), Dan Haines.

Subs not used: Deji Adeosun, Haydn Cooper.

Goal: Ben Cotton 80 (pen).

Penalties Scored: 1- David Lodge, 2- Emil Salama, 3- Dan Haines, 5- Nadean Fosu, 6- Tin Carnell.

Penalties Missed: 4- Ben Cotton, 7- Jack Lewis.

Bookings: Junior Evbota 90, Nadean Fosu 114.

Attendance: 222
Referee: Mr Stuart Marriott
Assistants: Mr Alexander Clark and Mr Zoltan Konkoly