‘Unbelievable’ win wasn’t in my script
Prize money of £18,000 for beating Stevenage lifted Maidstone’s FA Cup earnings this season to £148,000 – and there’s more to come.
They can look forward to another £16,000 in TV cash when BBC Wales show live coverage of the second round tie at Wrexham on December 6 (kick-off 5.30pm). Prize money for the winner is £ 27,000.
Co-owner Terry Casey was stunned when Frannie Collin headed home the late winner against League 2 Stevenage on Thursday night. Collin also gave Maidstone a dream start by opening the scoring in the second minute, with Boro levelling after the break.
Mr Casey said: “I arrived thinking they’d probably tumble us and we might have got duffed up three or four-nil and that early goal sort of spoilt my evening a little bit because it put me on tenterhooks!
“This wasn’t what I scripted for. I scripted for a League 2 team dominating us but as we got that goal early on, the tension just rose and rose.
“We were a bit sleepy when they got their equaliser, so it was a bit disappointing in that respect but everything else they did, they deserve every bit of glory they’ve got.”
Proud Mr Casey added: “It’s unbelievable. We deserved it. It wasn’t as if we pinched it. We were just as good as them and we scored an extra goal.
“It was just immense for two games – they never dominated us in either game. We took it to them each time.
“Extra-time, penalties, every possible scenario had gone through my head – I just can’t believe that goal went in so late on. I think I possibly lost my head at the point Frannie scored!
“It was just so tense all the way through because there’s not much between the teams.”
It was the first time a 3G pitch had been used in the first round of the FA Cup and Mr Casey was delighted to see the surface show up well on live TV, despite concerns voiced by Stevenage boss Graham Westley before the game.
Mr Casey said: “He got his excuses in early and now he’s going to be able to use them but it’s nonsense. The surface played perfectly well.
“Our second goal was a cross from a talented ball player who beat a couple of players and chipped it across.
“That happens on any pitch and I thought we had an even contest.”