Maidstone United are still in the F.A.Cup but only by the skin of their teeth, grabbing an all important equaliser in added time.
Enfield, two divisions below the Stones, came to the Gallagher Stadium and nearly caused one of those much talked about cup upsets, now both sides have the chance to be in the first round proper when they play again Tuesday evening.
The game started with Maidstone as expected in the driving seat, in the second minute they should have been one-nil up but what happened next will likely be on Question of Sport sometime in the future.
The ball was played into the feet of Delano Sam-Yorke in the area, Dan Rumens got to close to him, fouling him and conceding the penalty, up stepped Zavon Hines, he strode forward then stopped, firing into the bottom left hand corner but the referee disallowed it, in the process giving a free-kick to Enfield, adding salt to the wounds by booking Hines, leaving everyone in the ground looking up the rules to see if the referee had man an error, but the man in the middle was spot on.
Three minutes later Joe Pigott’s free kick from 25 yards was saved by Joe Wright. The game settled down with Maidstone having the lion share of the possession without causing the Enfield Town defence any real problems.
Then in the 20th minute disaster struck for the Stones when the away side took the lead, a counter attack saw Mickey Parcell on the overlap cross to the back post where Simon Thomas was waiting to head home past Lee Worgan, stunning the home fans and sending the away fans wild.
Three minutes later Maidstone had a half chance when Seth Nana-Twumasi on the right crossed into the area for Joe Anderson but from ten yards his header went wide.
As the game approached the half hour mark Anderson’s cross found Sam-Yorke, his header from eight yards was pushed over the bar by Wright, the resulting corner which was eventually cleared fell to Jack Paxman, his shot from 20 yards went just past the post.
Not long before half time Maidstone had a chance to equalise when Stuart Lewis in the area was fouled by Ryan Blackman, once again a penalty was given, up stepped Hines, this time his penalty high to the right was superbly saved by Wright.
Moments before the halftime whistle was going to be blown Maidstone got their equaliser when Nana-Twumasi on the right cut inside, crossed into the area where Alex Wynter was waiting, his header from eight yards went in via the post.
In the one minute of added on time Maidstone nearly took the lead when Nana-Twumasi passed into the path of Lewis, his snapshot was pushed away by Wright.
The second half started with Maidstone once again coming out of the traps the fastest as they went in search of the goal that would give them the lead.
Pigott received the ball 20 yards out, his shot was saved by Wright, a minute later they thought they had taken the lead when Sam-Yorke in the area saw his shot come back of the post, Darren Purse was the quickest to react and clear the ball away for a corner.
Two minutes later Lewis put Paxman clear in the area but he was forced wide, he was able to cross the ball into the six yard area where Lewis side foot effort went wide.
Shortly before the hour mark, Enfield restored their lead when in a breakaway Aaron Greene running down the left wing crossed low for Sam Youngs but Ollie Muldoon making his debut got to him first, the referee adjudged it to be a foul and awarded a penalty.
Up stepped 41-year-old Darren Purse showing Maidstone especially Hines how to do it by hitting it into the right hand corner, it was an impressive penalty from the Enfield assistant manager.
Stones boss Jay Saunders decided to throw caution to the wind by bringing on Jamar Loza for his appearance since injury for the last 25 minutes of the match.
By now Maidstone were now dominating possession with Enfield relying on counter attacks, in the 68th minute Anderson decided to try his luck from 30 yards but Wright was equal to the effort. In the 75th minute a cross into the area found Pigott who headed back across the area for Johan ter Horst but his header was easily saved by Wright.
A minute later Loza running toward the area let fly, his shot came back to Lewis but his effort flew wide of the post. In the 89th minute Worgan on the halfway line crossed to the back post for Alex Finney who headed back across the area for Wynter but he just could not get on he end of the cross.
Time was running out, then in the very last minute of five added minutes, Maidstone got the deserved equaliser rwhen Loza received the ball just outside the area, weaved his way into the area and let fly from 15 yards beating Wright but not the post. The ball came out to Pigott who knocked it in, lifting the roof off the Gallagher Stadium.
Maidstone United: Worgan, Finney, Wynter, Lewis, Sam-Yorke (Ter Horst, 72), Paxman (Reason, 76), Muldoon, Anderson, Nana-Twumasi, Hines (Loza, 65)
Subs Not Used: Hare, Prestedge, Wraight, Richards
Bookings: Hines (2), Nana-Twumasi (78)
Enfield Town: Wright, Parcell (Blake, 72), Rumens, Purse, Mckenzie, Martin, Blackman, Youngs, Moore (Kyriacou, 72), Thomas (Ward-Cochrane, 85), Greene
Subs Not Used: Bartley, Roberts, Hochney, Beattie
Bookings: Youngs (60), Parcell (69)
Referee: Mr. W.Cartmel
Assistants: Mr R.Head & Mr J.Aldous
4th Official: Mr A.Anastasiou
Att 1495 (217 Away).
Pictures supplied by Wesley Filtness.