Stones win the bragging rights
It was Maidstone’s night when they met Gillingham for the first time in 26 years on Tuesday.
True, it was only the Kent Senior Cup and supporters of whoever lost were bound to write it off as a meaningless match.
But Gills fans didn’t give the impression they weren’t bothered about Tuesday night’s quarter-final tie.
For a start, almost 600 of them travelled to the Gallagher and they were as loud as you’ll hear them in a League 1 game.
They had a side packed with League 1 experience to get behind, including a back three of Connor Ogilvie, Ben Nugent and Alex Lacey – who have all been regulars this season – plus the likes of former Bolton striker Conor Wilkinson.
It may not have been what Gills boss Steve Lovell considers to be his strongest XI but let’s not forget all these players were signed to play League 1 football.
Maidstone, with limited options, were at full strength bar Stuart Lewis, who was named on the bench.
The sides fed off the crowd and produced a good cup tie, with United deserving winners.
Gills coach Mark Patterson even said so.
Maidstone were sharper in attack, with Delano Sam-Yorke putting in a shift against Gills’ back three and Jamar Loza and Darius Osei enjoying the chance to get down the flanks with no full-backs in front of them.
At the other end, Elliott List grew into the game as Gills put a series of crosses into the Maidstone box but keeper Lee Worgan gathered the lot and was quick to get his side going on the counter.
There was a touch of fortune in the build-up to Maidstone’s 26th-minute opener as Alex Wynter’s stray pass inadvertently found Sam-Yorke.
The Stones striker fed Jai Reason who slipped in Jack Paxman for a lovely finish beyond Stuart Nelson and into the far corner.
List forced a good save from Worgan at his near post and also featured in the move for the equaliser in the 41st minute.
He combined with Liam Nash whose effort was parried by Worgan, with the ball sitting up for Rhys Murphy to follow in and head home.
Reece Prestedge hit the bar from distance and the dangerous Osei flashed the ball across the face of goal before Seth Twumasi missed by inches on his left foot as United enjoyed a good spell after the break.
They regained the lead in the 72nd minute after a nice move.
Twumasi brought the ball out of defence with Sam-Yorke, Reason, Loza and Osei all involved before the ball reached Prestedge whose deflected strike from 20 yards looped over Nelson.
Only a brilliant save by Nelson denied Maidstone a third, somehow getting down to block from Prestedge at point-blank range with a goal looking certain.
Nelson saved Gills again soon after when Loza lost two men out wide and burst into the box.
Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Hare, Wynter, Anderson, Prestedge, Reason, Paxman, Osei, SamYorke, Loza (Richards 88mins). Subs not used: Lewis, Capel, Taylor, Bartlett. Attendance: 1,613.