May red card prompts appeal
Maidstone have appealed against Jay May’s red card in their FA Trophy qualifier against AFC Sudbury last Saturday.
Striker May was sent off for an alleged elbow on Craig Pope midway through the first half of Stones’ 2- 0 defeat in the second qualifying round.
United are adamant it was a fair challenge and have submitted video evidence with the FA.
Stones boss Jay Saunders, who was sent from the touchline in the aftermath, said: “The red card was ridiculous and we are appealing it. We should know soon what will happen.
“I’ve seen the video and pictures and it’s not a red card. Jay’s arm is straight – there’s no elbow. Hopefully, justice is done with the appeal.
“It was frustrating because I was looking forward to seeing Alex Akrofi and Jay May playing together and thought they would work well.”
May faces a threematch ban if the appeal is unsuccessful, ruling him out of the home game against VCD on November 29 and trips to Grays (December 3) and Hampton & Richmond (December 6).
Saunders was playing peacemaker between Stones physio Paul Smith and the Sudbury bench when he was dismissed.
He said: “It’s a strange one. I told Smudge, our physio, to calm down as he was ranting at their bench. The linesman told me to sit down which I didn’t feel I needed to as you’re allowed two people standing in the technical area, then the referee came over and told me I had to sit down.
“I was trying to defuse the situation and ended up being asked to leave the pitch.
“I think he thought I was one of the subs rather than the manager.”
The defeat was United’s first at home in any competition this season.
They made six changes to the side who drew with Dulwich Hamlet in the league four days earlier.
It was still a strong lineup, with the likes of Ben Greenhalgh, Phil Starkey and Alex Brown, handed starts.
But Stones fell behind against their Ryman League, Division 1 North visitors when Kris Newby met a cross from Correy Davidson after 19 minutes.
Akrofi went closest to an equaliser with a 25-yard strike that hit the inside of the post with keeper Marcus Garnham beaten.
Lee Worgan denied Sudbury a second with an excellent reaction save but with Stones chasing the game, Jack Parkinson lost possession and the visitors broke to make the tie safe with Newby’s second goal on 89 minutes. Maidstone: Worgan, Davies ( Mills 57mins), Starkey, Coyle, Miles, Brown ( Robertson 78mins), Greenhalgh, Parkinson, May, Akrofi, Jordan ( Bodkin 65mins). Subs not used: Sutherland, Godmon. Attendance: 1,423.