So heartening, magical and, at times, mesmeric has the Maidstone United story been this season, there is a line of thinking that George Elokobi and his side are to thank for singlehandedly saving the FA Cup, having reminded us of its raw charm. Elokobi is viewed as something of a saviour given Maidstone’s unforgettable ride through seven rounds of this competition but in these parts Coventry have their own untouchable manager in Mark Robins, the man who scored a pivotal goal en route to winning this competition with Manchester United in 1990.
Robins has steered Coventry through many a storm and here they breezed into the quarter-finals, Ellis Simms scoring a first-half hat-trick before Fábio Tavares capped victory approaching full time with two late goals, halting Maidstone’s incredible charge. Maidstone, the first team from outside the top five divisions to reach this stage since Blyth Spartans in 1978, depart with a rich tapestry of tales to remember.
A journey that began in Sussex on a 3G pitch at Steyning Town of the Southern Combination League – the ninth tier of the football pyramid – in the second qualifying round ended in the rather grander surrounds of this arena, home to a team pushing for promotion to the Premier League. It was Coventry, winners of this competition in 1987, supporters who left the stadium singing about Wembley, their place in Wednesday’s quarter-final draw in effect secured within 34 minutes. By the time the fourth official, Andrew Kitchen, indicated two minutes of first-half stoppage time Maidstone’s players could be forgiven for wanting to flood down the tunnel for some respite.
Elokobi encouraged his players to drink in the occasion and record memories to cherish. George Fowler and Manny Duku filmed the horde of supporters – most decked out in Maidstone’s amber and black colours – that cheered them off the coach and they posed for a squad photo on the pitch. Elokobi, as he did before Maidstone sent Ipswich packing in the previous round, addressed the fans on arrival. His parting shot before heading inside? “Make some noise,” he roared. The almost 5,000-strong away support hardly needed any more encouragement. When Maidstone overcame Chesham United in the first round, a run this deep surely felt implausible.
Since then Maidstone have pocketed about £500,000 and won friends in the game, overseas and closer to home. Last week the Cup trophy visited Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium and earlier this month the mayor invited the squad to a civic reception at the town hall. For Elokobi, belief has always been the buzzword on their incredible adventure but even he would have recognised the game was as good as over when Simms scored his and Coventry’s second goal on 14 minutes, finishing across the face of Lucas Covolan’s goal. “Two-nil on your big day out,” came the stinging chant from the buoyant home support. Liam Sole sent a shot whistling high and wide and a free-kick 25 yards out when Liam Kelly clipped Lamar Reynolds was about as good as it got for the visitors.
Covolan, a journeyman Brazilian, was the hero at Portman Road as Ipswich peppered his goal and made an early save to deny Haji Wright after the USA forward swivelled on the penalty spot. Maidstone prospered at Ipswich after scoring with both of their two shots and a repeat of such clinical finishing was always unlikely against another Championship side. Simms prodded in Coventry’s first after picking up Kasey Palmer’s through ball and completed his hat-trick when Covolan could only push Palmer’s shot into his path, tucking in the rebound.
Reynolds rattled the side netting of Ben Wilson’s goal seven minutes into the second half and Maidstone, to their credit, kept pushing. The half-time arrival of Callum O’Hare, one of the most talented players outside of the top flight, in place of Wright only rammed home the size of the challenge facing the Kent side. Covolan seemed to heed Elokobi’s pre-match advice and certainly enjoyed sidestepping Palmer to large whoops from the Maidstone fans behind his goal, his silky skills a nod to his heritage. Covolan flew to his left to deny Palmer adding a fourth midway through the second half. No wonder Maidstone’s support savoured every corner they earned.
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Elokobi made his first changes – a triple substitution – in the 70th minute, with Gavin Hoyte, Bivesh Gurung and Chi Ezennolim providing fresh legs. By that point Maidstone knew the game had long been over, Saturday’s trip to Dover Athletic, the resumption of their attempt to make the sixth-tier playoffs, no doubt lingering in their minds. Next week it is back to hosting Bath City and St Albans in that quest for promotion, but they have made memories to last a lifetime.