Maidstone are through to the last sixteen of the FA Trophy but it was a scrappy affair that save them advance and keep Bill Williams dream alive of getting to Wembley.

Caretaker managers Simon Walton and Tristan Lewis will tell you a win is a win and this victory could go a long way to help them secure the Managers job full time.

Maidstone started the game the better and in the 7^th minute a great diagonal ball from right to left saw Jack Richards clear, he went into the area, from an acute angle his cross shot evaded everyone including the goal.

Three minutes later Oxford had their first half chance when Reece Fleet’s free kick to the back post found Joe Oastler but his header went wide.

In the 16^th minute Craig Fasanmade on the right saw his low cross deflect into the path of Kabongo Tshimanga but his shot from 12 yards was blocked by Will De Havilland, with the ball going straight into the arms of the grateful Ethan Ross.

Maidstone’s defence were being tested by the speed of the Oxford forwards without forcing Ross to make any saves. In the 30^th minute Michael Phillips free kick to the back post saw Rob Swaine head wide of the post. Two minutes later Elliott Romain chasing a long ball beat off two defenders, from the by-line his low shot was saved by Craig King.

In the 36^th minute Maidstone broke the deadlock with the best bit of football of the match so far when Ollie Muldoon on the left half way drove a diagonal ball out to Jack Paxman who crossed into the area where Richards appeared, he shot home from 10 yards.

Right on half time Oxford nearly equalised when Fasanmade found himself in the area, his shot was half saved by Ross, this caused panic in the Maidstone defence as a few shots came in but they survived this little onslaught.

The second half started well for Maidstone as in the first five minutes they had two chances, firstly in the 47^th minute Paxman on the right went across the edge of the area before passing to Aryan Tajbakhsh, his first time shot went over the bar. Then in the 50^th minute a long corner half cleared saw Swaine retrieve it, pass inside for Paxman who saw his curling effort from 18 yards saved by King.

Oxford suddenly had a few chances themselves when in the 54^th minute Josh Ashby saw his 25 yard effort go just over the bar, then in the 70^th minute Tshimanga running forward put Zac McEachran through into the area but under pressure his weak shot was easily saved by Ross.

The visitors were now throwing everything at Maidstone but this did leave them open for counter attacks. In the 84^th minute Ashby latched onto a loose ball, from 25 yards saw his shot go wide.

The final few minutes were a nervous affair for the Maidstone supporters and management but when the final whistle went there were a lot of smiles and relief as they know it wasn’t a great performance, now they can turn their attention to a massive six pointer against Maidenhead on Tuesday evening.

Maidstone United:

1. E.Ross 5. W.De Havilland 8. J.Powell  9. E.Romain   10. J.Paxman   21. O.Muldoon.
2. M.Phillips 23. J.Richards (76) 25. R.Swaine (88)   28. A.Tajbaksh     30. J.Edobar

Subs Used:  31. T.Fagg (76)   20. S.Walton (88)

Subs Not Used:  12. J.Strizovic   32. C.Dale   33. J.Bates

Bookings:  9. E.Romain (27)  5. W.De Haviland (45+2)  28. A.Tajbakhsh (65)   8. J.Powell (75)

Oxford City:

1. C.King 2. E.Jones 3. B.Jefford (35)  4. J.Ashby  5. U.Godwin-Malife  6. J.Oastler  7. C.Fasan Made
2. R.Fleet 9. K.Tshimanga 10. B.Barrett (59)   11. B.Bawling (77)

Subs Used: 16. T.Carter (35)  14. Z.Mceachran (59)    18. K.Otudeko (77)

Subs Not Used:  13. A.Grantham  17. J.O’donoghue

Bookings:  4. J.Ashby (67)

Referee: Mr C.Pollard

Assistants: Mr D.Geary & Mr D.Sotimirin

4^th Official: Mr J.Stokes

Att 1156 (31 from Oxford)