Stones maintain cup record
MAIDSTONE UTD 4 Johnson 53, Khan 58, Chesmain 77, Edwards 90 KINGS LANGLEY 1 Collins 90+6pen
Maidstone came good to reach the FA Cup first round for the sixth year running on Saturday. They put a forgettable first half against Southern League Kings Langley behind them to progress with goals from Ryan Johnson, Saidou Khan, Noah Chesmain and substitute Jonny Edwards’ penalty.
Roddy Collins replied from the spot deep into added time for the visitors.
At 2-0 both sides were reduced to 10 men following an offthe-ball clash between home debutant Ross Marshall and Langley’s ex-Dartford striker Harry Crawford.
The Stones had beaten lowerleague opposition in the last two rounds without being at their best and once again they appeared to be making hard work of it at the Gallagher. They created virtually nothing in a flat first half with the only half chance coming in added time when Justin Amaluzor ran on to a through ball and rolled the ball past keeper Melvin Minter but it didn’t have the legs to trouble covering defender Callum Adebiyi.
Kings Langley looked a useful side and had the ball in the net midway through the first half but Crawford’s strike was ruled out for offside.
There was a scare for Langley at the start of the second half when Minter, attempting to stop a corner, shanked a clearance straight to Matt McClure but Maidstone couldn’t punish the mistake.
United did, though, take the lead in the 53rd minute with Johnson heading home a Chesmain corner for the second week running.
This one was delivered to the far post with the Maidstone centre-half climbing highest. Crawford went close to a quick response before the Stones doubled their lead in the 58th minute. Gavin Hoyte was the provider – his sixth assist this season – with a cross met by the head of Khan for his first Stones goal.
Maidstone were now well on top and went close to a third when Ibby Akanbi fed Amaluzor who cut inside and hit the sidenetting.
Both sides had a man sent off after a clash between Marshall and Crawford in the 69th minute. Marshall was fouled by the Langley man but there were afters before the free-kick was taken and referee Rob Whitton dismissed both.
Maidstone extended their lead in the 77th minute and what a strike it was, too. Chesmain’s stunning 25-yard free-kick found the top corner with the angle seemingly very much against the left-footer.
Number four followed in the final minute of normal time, Edwards tripped in the box by Dean Hitchcock and coolly finding the bottom corner with his penalty.
Langley hit the post before Collins’ spot-kick in the sixth minute of added time.
Maidstone: Cole, Hoyte, Johnson, Elokobi, Chesmain, Marshall, Khan, Amaluzor (Edwards 80mins), McClure (Allen 80mins), Wishart, Akanbi (Kamdjo 69mins). Subs not used: Pennell, Gilbert, Kyei, Lewington. Attendance: 1,449 (142 away).