Cole provides a helping hand
MAIDSTONE 2
Akanbi who eased the ball past Horlock.
Maidstone were all over the visitors for a spell, Dan Wishart forcing a good save from the edge of the box, Akanbi lifting the ball over and Kyei prodding wide.
United dominated possession, given time and freedom to pop the ball about in their own half, but the tempo went out of the game for a while.
There were a couple more openings late in the half, though, with Matt McClure’s 20-yard strike pushed wide before George Elokobi’s cracking 35-yard drive went inches over the top.
Cawley looped a header over for the visitors at the start of the second half, while Max Ryan’s well-hit 25-yard strike caught the side-netting.
At the other end, Akanbi’s header from a Chesmain cross just missed the target and Kyei nodded wide.
Hitchin looked more willing to have a go than they did in the first half and a big chance fell their way with just over 20 minutes left.
It came from a free-kick with the ball eventually dropping to Okuboyejo a couple of yards out but Cole got down well.
They had an even better opportunity after being awarded a penalty with 12 minutes left. Jack Green went down under a challenge from Ryan Johnson but Cole dived to his right to keep out Cawley’s spot-kick. Wishart twice went close to a late third for the Stones, his first effort blocked by Josh Bickerstaff and his second thumped just wide.
Hitchin should have secured a replay in added time but Joe Gauge missed by inches.