Maidstone United have progressed into the Fourth Qualifying Round draw as second half goals from Alex Osborn and Jay May saw The Stones finally overcome a resilient Dunstable Town, who had been reduced to ten men when the scores were still level.

A scoreless, largely underwhelming first half saw little of the attractive play that had seen Maidstone defeat Kent rivals Ebbsfleet United seven days earlier, and had Lee Worgan not been as alert to turn a Geoff Mitchell effort wide, the visitors may even have gone in ahead.

But Mitchell lost his cool on 53, clashing with restored skipper Steve Watt, and earning a straight red from Mr Lymer, whose officiating had tried to let the game flow.  With the man advantage, Maidstone continued to pass the ball, making the pitch as wide as possible, and it was from the wide positions that they earned their two goals.

It took until the 71st minute for the deadlock to be broken as Alex Osborn, on loan from Ebbsfleet and on his full debut, beat David Keenleyside, drove into the area, and his shot was too good, going through the legs of James Kaloczi, leaving Paul Bastock grasping at thin air.

Within 5 minutes, Maidstone had sealed the game as Jay May powered a header from close range past Bastock from Matt Bodkin’s delightful chip.

Against opponents from a league lower – Dunstable currently 20th in the Evo-Stick Southern Premier – and on a run of 5 consecutive wins, Maidstone looked strangely subdued.  Lee Worgan could be heard imploring the players in front of him to concentrate as Danny Talbot had an early long-range effort fly over.

The visitors had a constant threat through Geoff Mitchell, signed from Alloa Athletic this week, and Gary Wharton, but too often their good play broke down without an end product.  Dunstable’s veteran keeper, 45-year old Paul Bastock, had to be brave to punch away from Jay May, who then blazed a volley high over after good build-up play from Alex Osborn.

From Maidstone’s next attack, Bastock palmed away Adam Birchall’s cross, and was alert enough to dive at the feet of Joe Healy before the Stones’ midfielder could wriggle away from two defenders.

Mitchell was proving a handful for Jamie Coyle and Steve Watt, recalled for the rested Manny Parry, and both he and left-winger, Jamale McKenzie-Lowe wasted opportunities 25 yards out by hitting wayward shots, rather than looking to work the ball behind the home defence.

Although The Stones were controlling most of the play, a well worked move broke down on the edge of the Dunstable area on 38, and the visitors counter attacked with pace.

The clearance fell to Mitchell who beat Watt in one move.  He travelled towards the Maidstone area and, with Coyle closing in, hit a shot that had Lee Worgan scambling across his goal to turn away from the left upright.

Birchall tested Bastock again with a shot from distance just before the interval, but in truth, neither side deserved the lead.

Jat Saunders said that he had told his men to be patient at the interval, and it looked as though the players had heeded their manager’s advice.  A flowing passing move involving Osborn, Jack Paxman and Bodkin saw an early cross flying from the right towards the near post, where Joe Healy met with a crisp volley, but could only find the crowd in the Town End.

Watt and Mitchell, who had been having a competitive, but fair contest throughout the match were involved in the incident that changed the match in Maidstone’s favour on 53.  Mitchell twice outmuscled Watt on the right to put a cross into the area, but with everyone’s attention drawn to the ball, there was a clash between the two, seen by the assistant.  The referee had no hesitation in dismissing Mitchell.

The visitors seemed determined to deny Maidstone any clear efforts on goal, and during the following fifteen minutes, only a tame volley from Healy tested Bastock, although there was a defender on the line aiding the keeper.  But for all of their passing, the breakthrough came from a route one ball by Watt, controlled by Osborn on the left wing.  Osborn skipped effortlessly past David Keenleyside and as James Kaloczi tried to close, he fired a shot through the defender’s legs leaving Bastock helpless.

On 75, less than 5 minutes later, and before Dunstable could adjust, Maidstone doubled their lead.  Bodkin and Birchall exchanged passes on the right corner of the area, with Birchall playing a little reverse ball into Bodkin’s path.  The hat-trick hero of the last round lifted a ball into the 6-yard box, where May outjumped both the defence and Bastock to head down and under the Dunstable keeper.

With the game sealed, Maidstone had time to bring on Alex Flisher, to one of the biggest cheers of the day, and give a debut to 16-year old Archie Wrigglesworth, who earned his own cheer for competing for, and winning a header against Danny Talbot; a player a good 8-10 inches taller.

MAIDSTONE UNITED: Lee Worgan, Callum Driver, Tom Mills, Steve Watt, Jamie Coyle, Jack Paxman, Matt Bodkin (Alex Flisher 78), Joe Healy, Jay May (Alex Akrofi 77), Adam Birchall (Archie Wrigglesworth 89), Alex Osborn.

Subs not used: Manny Parry, James Rogers, Bobby-Joe Taylor, Ben Bridle-Card (gk).

Goals: Alex Osborn 71, Jay May 75.

DUNSTABLE TOWN: Paul Bastock, David Keenleyside (Zac Reynolds 76), Luke Pennell, Danny Talbot, James Kaloczi, Adam Pepera, Adam Watkins, Gary Wharton (Lorenzo Ferrari 81), Geoff Mitchell, Steven Gregory (Lee Roache 56), Jamale McKenzie-Lowe.

Subs not used: Matt Nolan, Bart Pedrycz (gk).

Red Card: Geoff Mitchell 53.

Attendance: 1,583
Referee: Mr Colin Lymer
Assistants: Mr Craig Green and Mr James Vallance