Mitchell Young travelled to Maidstone to report on yesterday’s match:-
Maidstone v Brentwood
Ryman Premier leaders Maidstone United nicked an injury-time winner as they progressed to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 over Brentwood Town at The Gallagher Stadium.
Brentwood got an early lead through a long range shot from Robbie Rees. Maidstone equalised shortly afterwards.
The home side grabbed the all-important goal in the 94th minute by Jack Parkinson in the final play of the game.
Brentwood went in front seven minutes in after a loose ball fell to Robbie Rees who hit a thunderbolt from 20 yards which flew into the top right hand corner.
Maidstone almost made an immediate reply as Ben Greenhalgh wriggled through but for a last ditch tackle by Captain Martyn Stokes saw out the danger for a corner.
The hosts did finally break down The Brentwood defence and equalised five minutes later after a ball whipped in by Aaron Simpson was guided in by Greenhalgh.
‘The Stones’ nearly went in front after a far post header was met by Frannie Collin who headed just wide.
Maidstone again threatened through top goal scorer Collin as he took a touch and shot which was saved by Olly Bowles. His second chance came from the second corner which he headed on the stretch over from two yards out and an open goal.
Jack Parkinson was the next player for the home side as his close range shot from the corner came off the post and cleared away by the Brentwood defence.
Early in the second half Alex Akofi skipped past the Maidstone defence and put it into the path of Rees whose shot was tame. The Brentwood striker was put in once again from Bantick but was well blocked by Lee Worgan.
Shad Ngandu burst into the space and shrugged off two challenges and brought a great save out of Worgan.
As the sides approached the last ten minutes Parkinson found a yard and got a shot away which went wide of Bowles goal.
Maidstone substitute Matt Bodkin attacked the box but for a great reflect save by Bowles. Another rifled shot from substitute James Rogers was again fantastically saved to deny Maidstone the lead.
The home side almost clinched it just into injury time as a cross field ball from Simpson to Bodkin’s who hit it on the half volley which went just wide.
Maidstone in the 94th minute of injury time last play of the game was flicked in by Parkinson and Ngandu and Mbulu were unable to head it off the line. To put Maidstone through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Maidstone United Lineup: 1 Lee Worgan, 2 Aaron Simpson, 3 Tom Mills,4 Jaime Coyle ©, 5 Sonny Miles, 6 Alex Brown (67), 7 Ben Greenhalgh (80), 8 Jack Parkinson, 9 Jay May (67), 10 Frannie Collin, 11 Alex Flisher
Substitutes: 12 James Rogers (67), 14 Matt Bodkin (67), 15 Ashley Miller (80), 16 Ellis Iandolo, 17 Steve Watt, 18 Bradley Jordan, 21 Will Godman
Brentwood Town Lineup: 1 Olly Bowles, 2 Christian Mbulu, 3 Louis Baucutt, 4 Martyn Stokes ©, 5 Ryan O’Rawe, 6 Danny Dafter, 7 Shad Ngandu, 8 Daryl Robson, 9 Alex Akofi, 10 Robbie Rees (80), 11 Sam Bantick (70)
Substitutes: 12 Yeshaya Lomoley, 14 Adam Rooke, 15 Jason Dobbs, 16 Jack Gardner (70), 17 Courtney White (80), 18 James Pellin, 19 Sherwin Stanley
Attendance: 1,464
Click below to listen to Mitchell’s full-time report
