Maidstone United headed into the First Round Proper with a 2-0 half-time lead proving the platform to then go on and seal the game in the second-half.

The Fleet were able to recall Jim Kellermann to the starting lineup after his injury while Anthony Stewart made his first appearance in a matchday squad, named on the bench.

But just as Fleet fans found their voices behind the goal their side was attacking, Maidstone forced themselves in front at the other end. There were seven minutes on the clock when Aaron Blair got on to the end of Charlie Seaman’s throw-in. Mark Cousins was able to make the save but the assistant referee indicated he thought the ball had dropped the other side of the line in the process and a goal was awarded.  The Fleet players protested the decision but referee Farai Hallam chose to side with his assistant and it was 1-0.

The Fleet tried to gather for an instant response and Rakish Bingham fired towards goal but his effort dragged narrowly wide.

Maidstone created chances for a second when a curling effort from Blair was deflected just past the post to earn the Stones a corner and from that, a headed effort landed just off target.

A Fleet penalty appeal went up when former Maidstone player Jephte Tanga went to ground as he tried to turn for a shot 12 yards out but the referee waved it away.

Just before the half-hour mark there was another opportunity for an equaliser when a ball across the box eventually fell to Kellermann whose first-time shot was cleared by the Stones. Tanga looked to hit one on the rebound, but that too was hit away to safety.

The second goal did arrive for the hosts on 32 minutes, this time from Anthony Papadopoulos. Making room for himself just outside the box, he advanced to fire a powerful shot that left Cousins with no chance.

The Fleet’s best chance of getting back into the game came early in the second-half when Bingham found himself one-on-one with Alexis Andre Jr but the keeper got down to the ball to block the Fleet striker’s way.

And when their third arrived for the Stones on 53, it was all over. Aaron Blair earned his second of the afternoon as the amber shirts Stones broke upfield and Blair was the front runner, laying the ball to Papadopoulos who headed the effort back towards the area to leave the No.9 with an open net to head home.

Another penalty shout for the Fleet came when Kwame Thomas went down on the edge of the box but the referee awarded just a free kick for the initial contact outside the box and Chapman put that wide.

A torrential rain shower sent fans rushing for cover but there was little from either side to suggest another goal. Former Fleet man Shaq Coulthirst was brought on with 10 minutes remaining and sent a curling effort floating off target.

Fleet sub Sha’mar Lawson dispatched a shot from distance, Bingham spun to get one away on target that lacked power while at the other end Blair came close to a hat-trick but was denied by Cousins before the final whistle ended FA Cup involvement for another season.

EUFC: Cousins, Kane, Domi (Stewart 36), John, Dallison, Wright (Lawson 81), Kellermann (Fonguck 46), Tanner, Chapman, Tanga (Thomas 61), Bingham. Subs not used: Cundle, Olagunju, Berry
MUFC: Andre Jr, Eweka, Brookes, Fowler, Brown (Fonkeu 77), Corne (Gurung 74), Blair, Seaman, Trusty (Higgs 67), Benton (Coulthirst 83), Papadopoulos (Krasniqi 90). Subs not used: Holden, Lodovica.
Attendance: 2,910

Images courtesy of Ebbsfleet United/Ed Miller