Maidstone United’s adventure in the FA Cup was ended at Wrexham; beaten, by probably the best team they have played this season, but certainly not disgraced by the 3-1 scoreline.
Manny Smith’s opener on 19 gave the Red Dragons the lead at the interval. But it was the dismissal of Aaron Simpson on 56 in conceding the penalty from which Andy Bishop score the first of his brace that saw Wrexham double their lead. Alex Flisher’s reply on 63 gave Maidstone some hope, and they had chances to level, but Bishop’s 2nd, four minutes from time, sealed the result.
Wrexham’s manager, Kevin Wilkin, took time out to praise Maidstone’s efforts at the end of the game, saying, “great credit to them, they’ve never laid down. To go to 2-0 with 10 men, they’ve caused us problems and got a goal back. There’s tremendous heart and spirit in that side and they’ve made what should have been a comfortable situation for us very awkward. You can see Maidstone are a club on the up, a terrific side, and we are just glad to be in the next round.”
Jay Saunders was equally magnanimous, and said “Wrexham have deserved it, they are a good side. Up front, they’ve caused us problems, but I’m proud (of my boys). With 10 men, on another day, we might get back into the game, but it was a good game, and I wish Wrexham well in the next round.”
“The second goal, the penalty, was the killer. If we could have held out for another 10 or 15 minutes and frustrated them, we could have got our goal and it would have been a different story. We got the goal, but you felt it wasn’t going to be our night. The Cup run has been a massive bonus to us, the club and the players, and it’s got us a lot of publicity.”
“If I’m being super-critical, we were probably a bit fazed by it all in the first half. Once we went down to 10 men, we just went for it. Flish (Alex Flisher) was a real handful when we put him up front, but we can’t have any complaints about the result; Wrexham are a decent outfit.”
“I thought the fans were an absolute credit to the club. From the first minute to the last, the support was first class. I think you can see how proud they are of the team, but what you don’t always see, and I don’t think they realise what it means for the players. I don’t think there are many teams in the Conference who would bring 800 here. It shows we are a big club with a big support, and I’m glad we’ve given them the opportunities of nights like this.”
Wrexham were quickly into their stride with Wes York drawing the first save from Lee Worgan before the 2nd minute had been completed.
The home side looked quicker all across the pitch, and Maidstone were struggling to contain their movement. Two minutes later, York put a dangerous cross in from the left wing, which pinballed around the Stones’ area, eventually allowing Andy Bishop to put a volley back across goal and wide.
Unusually for this season, Maidstone were looking uncertain at the back, and Jay Harris’ defence-splitting ball released Mark Carrington between Sonny Miles and Jamie Coyle, and as Tom Mills put in a challenge, Carrington’s shot was well saved by Worgan with his left leg.
When they could get the ball, Maidstone were looking to hit their hosts quickly on the counter-attack, and Matt Bodkin stepped inside Blaine Hudson to put a ball into the area. But from the clearance, Bishop set off on a run at Miles and Coyle, which the defenders did well to thwart as Bishop reached the edge of the area.
After 15 minutes, Maidstone finally had some sustained pressure, which saw the hosts struggle to clear their area. Jack Parkinson broke up an attack on the edge of the Maidstone box, and eventually picked up the ball again in the centre circle. His ball out to the wing found Jay May, who played a pass inside, where Alex Flisher hit a first time shot that Jon Flatt did well to save to his right. The rebound looped to May, whose header was also saved by Flatt. Unable to get the ball clear, Bodkin had a shot blocked, which flew out to James Rogers, whose left foot drive was held by Flatt.
On 19, Wrexham took the lead, from a corner that Worgan was unable to get a full punch on to clear. The ball dropped to Manny Smith, who hit a half-volley in off the underside of the bar.
The goal rattled the visitors, and although Wrexham continued to dominate possession, they couldn’t find a telling ball into the area. They were nearly made to pay on 29, as Flisher released Tom Mills into the area, and his low cross was driven goalwards by Parkinson, but well parried by Flatt. Parkinson was able to play the rebound back into the area, but Frannie Collin couldn’t direct his header on target.
Bishop put a tame header into Worgan’s arms, and York clipped a cheeky lob over the bar, after being released by another straight ball from Harris.
Wrexham’s goalscorer, Smith, picked up a caution for a late challenge on Bodkin, as he was driving towards the area. But the home side ended the stonger, with full-back Ross White heading wide after his run forced a poor clearance.
Within 60 seconds of the restart, Tom Mills latched onto a Flisher header, but volleyed high into the Glyindwir University stand. Moments later, Harris slipped a ball behind the Maidstone back-line for Bishop, but the forward tried a cute lob over the advancing Worgan, and over the bar.
On 51, Flisher’s first long throw of the afternoon found the head of Jay May, and Flatt had to claw the forward’s header away from the top left corner.
Four minutes later, Flisher was released into the Wrexham half by Collin, and with the Dragon’s back four trying to chase him down, Flisher’s shot was well saved by Flatt.
Maidstone were doubly punished on 56, as York, looking suspiciously offside, was brought down by Aaron Simpson, as the full-back tried to cover back inside the area. Mr Mathieson sent off the 17-year old, and Bishop stepped up to fire his penalty into the bottom left corner; giving Worgan no chance.
If Wrexham thought his would break their Ryman League opponents, they were mistaken. Six minutes later, Rogers won the ball in the middle of the Wrexham half and slipped a pass to Flisher. Rogers ran into the area to receive the return ball and fired a low cross into the 6-yard area, where Flisher, having spun past his defender, arrived to volley home.
As Wrexham looked to take advantage of their extra man, Maidstone defenders threw their bodies in the way of shots from Smith and Hudson. Even when a defender couldn’t reach a ball, the shooting of Wrexham’s forwards was hurried, as York screwed a shot well wide.
Rogers had a screaming right-foot shot shave the outside of the right hand upright, then popped up in the area to direct a header on goal that Flatt handled easily, as the visitors went hunting for the equaliser.
But Maidstone’s hopes of a comeback were killed off on 86, as Wrexham created space on the right wing by working the ball well across the middle of the park. James Pearson’s whipped cross to the near post was met by Andy Bishop’s glancing header, once again, giving Worgan no chance.
The scoreline could have been worse, as Wrexham’s leading scorer, Louis Moult had two chances; one flew wide, before Worgan saved the second. Then Bishop found himself unmarked with a chance of his hatrick, but produced a tame header straight at the Stones’ keeper.
WREXHAM: Jon Flatt, Mark Carrington, Neil Ashton, Manny Smith, Blaine Hudson, Joe Clarke, Jay Harris (Elliott Durrell 90), Andy Bishop, Wes York (Louis Moult 75), Ross White (James Pearson 84), Connor Jennings.
Subs not used: Louis Gray, Steve Tomassen, Nick Rushton, Johnny Hunt.
Goals: Manny Smith 19, Andy Bishop 57 (pen) & 86.
Bookings: Manny Smith 43.
MAIDSTONE UNITED: Lee Worgan, Aaron Simpson, Tom Mills, Jamie Coyle ©, Sonny Miles, James Rogers, Matt Bodkin (Alex Brown 77), Jack Parkinson, Jay May (Richard Davies 60), Frannie Collin (Mark Lovell 75), Alex Flisher.
Subs not used: Bradley Jordan, Ben Greenhalgh, Alfie Kitt, Will Godmon.
Goals: Alex Flisher 63.
Bookings: Mark Lovell 84.
Sent Off: Aaron Simpson 56.
Attendance: 3.093 (783 away fans)
Referee: Mr Scott Mathieson
Assistants: Mr Nicholas Barnard and Mr Ken Haycock
4th Official: Mr Bob Roberts