It comes after they beat League One side Stevenage, who sit 69 places above Maidstone in the football pyramid. Image: Helen Cooper.
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00:00 It was the biggest game of their careers. Sixth tier Maidstone United went into Saturday's
00:05 game against League One's Stevenage with nothing to lose. They'd already reached the third
00:10 round of the FA Cup for the first time since the club reformed in 1992 and were the lowest
00:15 ranked side still in the competition.
00:18 The 12.30 kick-off was met with a sell-out crowd at the Gallagher Stadium and the action
00:22 got underway quick with both sides putting in their all and struggling to settle on the
00:26 ball early on. 69 places between these two sides on the football pyramid and Maidstone
00:31 held their own in the first 20 minutes, negotiating well against a stronger and bigger opposition.
00:37 United's big moment came in first half added time when Jacob 'Berkley' Adepong was tripped
00:41 in the box. The referee pointed to the spot and Sam Corns stepped up for his club. A confident
00:46 smash put the Stones ahead going into the break and the upset was on.
00:51 Maidstone weathered a heavy second half pressure with Steve Evans making two changes to his
00:55 Stevenage 11 but the visitors just couldn't get past the stone-walled defence of Lucas
01:00 Cavagnari in goal. Jubilation at the Gallagher with hundreds of Maidstone fans storming the
01:06 pitch to enjoy the win with their club as they reached the fourth round for the first
01:10 time.
01:11 "We did the work in pre-season with them and we set out today to make sure history was
01:21 made. We told our players, I told the players before they came out today to enjoy every
01:25 bit of it, leave everything on the football pitch and have no regrets at the end of it.
01:30 But I told them there was one more step, there was one more step and we could cause an upset
01:34 today, a big one."
01:36 Meanwhile at Priestville, Gillingham didn't have quite the same luck against their Premier
01:40 League opposition Sheffield United. Another Kent upset looked unlikely at half-time with
01:45 Will Sula scoring twice to put the visitors two goals up and the amiss header from Max
01:49 Ema almost brought Gillingham back into it before James McAtee added a late double for
01:54 a 4-0 scoreline.
01:55 "Probably a little bit disappointed with the goals we conceded today. I wouldn't like to
02:00 concede them in League 2. We can always moan about goals, etc. But I think the boys will
02:06 be disappointed in them as well and I've mentioned that to them in the dressing room. But Sheffield
02:10 United, they're worthy winners and good luck to them in the next round."
02:14 Elsewhere and league action continued for Kent's sides with Ebbsfleet starting the new
02:17 year with a much-needed three points. They beat Weldstone at Stonebridge, marking the
02:22 relegation-threatened side's first clean sheet in 26 games and their third win in 21
02:28 National League matches.
02:29 In the National League South, just Tunbridge won out of Kent's playing sides, beating Weymouth
02:33 2-1. Bottom sitters Dover lost out 2-0 to Truro City and Dartford levelled with Western
02:38 Super Mare with Gillingham loanee Matty McArthur making his scoring debut for the Darts.
02:44 And finally, down in the Ydsmian Premier, no winners this week with second-placed Chatham
02:48 Town failing to find an equaliser against Bognor Regis. Folkestone found a draw with
02:52 Wingate and Finchley and ten-manned Margate suffered a last-minute own goal to deny them
02:57 a point.
02:58 [BLANK_AUDIO]