Maidstone United 1-0 Stevenage: Sixth-tier Stones stun League One side to reach FA Cup fourth round

Maidstone United boss George Elokobi says their historic FA Cup win over League One Stevenage has restored pride at the club after their relegation from the National League last season.

Sam Corne's first-half penalty sent the lowest-ranked team remaining in this season's competition through to the fourth round for the first time since their reformation in 1992.

Elokobi took over in January 2022 but could not keep Maidstone in the fifth tier, however he has led their revival in National League South and the FA Cup this term.

"If you'd been through what I'd been, in terms of my life when I was growing up in Cameroon, then you'll understand where my resilience comes from," he told BBC Radio Kent.

"I was backed by our owners. Some people might have thought they were crazy and there were some mixed emotions. Some people didn't believe I could do it because I wasn't the glamourous choice.

"I had people coming up and abusing me by the dugouts. I took it and it hurt, but what I wanted to do was restore pride at the football club and identity - and make sure we rebuild as a club.

"It was good to see after all the hurt that happened last season for our supporters, they deserve this today and they were incredible."

Corne sent Maidstone ahead from the spot late in the first half after Louis Thompson brought down Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong.

Stevenage should have levelled after the break when Jamie Reid hit the bar, with Kane Hemmings hitting the post on the rebound.

Maidstone, fourth in National League South, had already pulled off a shock this season by beating League Two promotion-chasers Barrow in the second round.

Their victory against Stevenage makes them the first sixth-tier side to reach the fourth round since Kidderminster Harriers in 2021-22, and first National League South side since Havant & Waterlooville in 2007-08.

For Stevenage, it was a big change from their third-round win at Premier League Aston Villa last season.

It took an inspired Maidstone performance against the League One promotion-chasers and Corne had earlier linked up with Lamar Reynolds, who headed straight at visiting keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond, before the pair combined on the half-hour mark with Reynolds scuffing another effort.

Such was Corne's threat that he almost doubled his, and the home side's, tally just after the break when Carl Piergianni was forced to clear his effort off the line.

Stevenage hit back soon after, however, as Piergianni had an effort of his own cleared off the line when he got his head on to Ben Thompson's corner.

Hemmings led Stevenage's second-half revival and he was denied an equaliser by a fine save from Stones keeper Lucas Covolan, with Reid and Hemmings both hitting the woodwork.

Steve Evans' side did not see their late dominance rewarded however, with former Wolves defender Elokobi masterminding an impressive defensive effort to keep out a side ranked 69 league places above them and seal their place in Monday's draw.

Going into Monday's fourth-round draw, Elokobi said it would be a dream to make the trip back to Molineux to face his former side Wolves - who must beat Brentford in a replay to make it through.

"There is a chance and if it happens, that is going to be the icing on the cake and I'm sure the Molineux is going to be rocking if it is away," he added.

"Or if it is here at the Gallagher it would be an incredible day for the football club but whoever we draw in the fourth round, we deserve it and we will respect them and I'm sure they're going to give us the respect, and the fans will come out in their numbers.

"Whoever we draw, it's a privilege and a great time to be a Maidstone United player, fan, for the management team, owners and backroom staff. It is a historic day."

Stevenage boss Steve Evans told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"I've just been in the [Maidstone] dressing room. I've said they've been a credit to their football club and themselves and I hope they get their ample rewards in the draw, I really do.

"For us, I don't think we gave enough respect on the pitch. Maidstone looked the better team than us in the first half.

"I don't know if it was a penalty, it certainly looked it but I'll have to watch it back. Then in the second half you give them something to hold on to and you cannot miss the simplest of chances you can imagine.

"The second half we can't have that momentum, dominance and all those chances. I can't believe we've missed four or five of them but we have and we've paid the price.

"We have to live with this now. We've been on the opposite end of it. We'll get back to the training ground and forget about it.

"I've got no complaints about the officials today. If we had that level of official for the past 10 weeks we'd have a lot more points."