Maidstone win for the first time since they beat Torquay in the 1^st Round of this competition but they made hard work of it but now find themselves in the last 16.

Once Maidstone had scored & it was a bit controversial they went on & dominated the game but once Heybridge pulled a goal back It became a very nervous last 10 minutes as Heybridge threw everything at Maidstone to get an equaliser.

The game started quickly for Maidstone as they went at Heybridge, in the 2^nd minute a throw in to Delano Sam-Yorke on the edge of the area saw him shoot but Danny Sambridge saved at his near post, after this Maidstone suddenly went into their shell & allowed Heybridge to keep in the game.

In the 21^st minute a Maidstone free kick right on the penalty area was taken by Stuart Lewis who tapped it to Jai Reason & his shot was saved by Sambridge. Three minutes later Heybridge could & maybe should have scored when Lewis Godbold in the area latched on to a rebound & from 12 yards on his own blasted over the bar.

In the 28^th minute Maidstone opened the scoring when Reason’s cross into the area was flicked on by Sam-Yorke to Jamar Loza on the far post but he seemed to control the ball with his arm but he then smashed it into the back of the net. The referee Alan Dale gave the goal but the Heybridge players asked the referee about handball & then went & asked the Assistant about it but after a delay of two minutes he gave the goal.

Four minutes later & Heybridge nearly equalised when Juan Luque’s free kick from 25 yards went inches past the post. In the 36^th minute Maidstone could have doubled their lead when an Anderson cross found Sam-Yorke 10 yards out with no one around him but his header went wide.

A couple of minutes later & Stuart Lewis saw his shot from 20 yards whistle past the post. In the 41^st minute Joe Anderson again having loads of time crossed into the area for Alex Wynter but he headed wide of the post.

In the 43^rd minute Maidstone finally doubled their lead when an Anderson corner to the back post found Josh Hare who headed across the six yard area for Darius Osei to tap in for his first goal for the club since his arrival from Oldham.

On half time Loza on the right wing cut inside & his shot from 15 yards was saved by Sambrook & then in the second minute of added on time Lewis Dark on the edge of the area received the ball & his shot went over the bar. The half time whistle went & the Heybridge players & manager had words with the referee about the goal.

The second half saw Maidstone dominate possession & create a loads of chances, in the 52^nd minute Osei’s cross into the area found Sam-Yorke but his header from 6 yards was tipped over the post by Sambridge, another chance came two minutes later when Osei on the right crossed into the area for Sam-Yorke who chested it just past the post.

In the 63^rd minute Osei nearly got his second & Maidstone’s third when Anderson’s pass into the path of Osei & his curling effort from 15 yards flew just past the post.  Osei was now starting to enjoy life in a Maidstone shirt as in the 75^th minute on the right wing his shot nearly caught Sambridge out but he parried it away.

A minute later & Worgan who up to now had only back passes s to worry about was forced to tip over Harrison Chatting’s volley from 18 yards. In the 80^th minute Heybridge got a goal back when a long throw into the area was partially cleared but only to Luque on the edge of the area & his shot flew into net.

The last 10 minutes saw Heybridge try to get an equaliser & they did make the crowd nervous but Maidstone held their nerve & are on the road to Wembley.

 

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. WORGAN 2. J.HARE  5. A.WYNTER  7. J.LOZA (85)  8. S.LEWIS  9. D.SAM-YORKE  11. T.WRAIGHT (25)     13. J.ANDERSON 14, J.REASON 16. S.NANA TWUMASI  17. D.OSEI (82)

SUBS USED:   10. J.PAXMAN (25)  22. J.TER HORST (82)  32. J.PIGOTT (85)

SUBS NOT USED:    6. M.OKUONGHAE   12. O.MULDOON

BOOKINGS:  13. J.ANDERSON (13)  5.A.WYNTER (39)

 

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS:

1. SAMBRIDGE 2. G.RAMON  3. T.STEVENSON  4. L.DARK  5. R.HENSHAW  6. J.CAWLEY  7. L.GODBOLD (87) 8. B.GRIFFITHS (65), 9. JOE GARDNER, 10. KRESHNIC KRASNIQI, 11. JUAN LUQUE.

SUBS USED:   15. H.CHATTING (65)  17. G.SMITH (87)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. H.MORGAN  14. R.CONWAY  20. R.SAPPLETON

BOOKINGS: 2. G.RAMON (10)  5. R.HENSHAW (77)

 

REFEREE:  Mr A.DALE

ASSISTANT REFEREES: Mr R.HEAD  &  Mr M.MORRISON

4^th OFFICIAL:  Mr M.MARSH

ATTENDANCE: 1276