Non-league Maidstone dump Championship's Ipswich out of FA Cup

Maidstone United recorded a famous FA Cup upset Saturday as the non-league team beat Championship side Ipswich Town 2-1 to reach the fifth round of the competition.

Lamar Reynolds put Maidstone ahead with a sublime chip in the 43rd minute before the forward set up Sam Corne's winner in the second half to send the away end at Portman Road wild with joy.

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Ipswich, who are second in the Championship and well placed to secure promotion to the Premier League next season, were briefly level when Jeremy Sarmiento snuck a shot in at the near post, but Kieran McKenna's team had no answer for Corne's goal 10 minutes later.

"You can probably hear it in my voice. I have been shouting all game and then celebrating just now, I can't believe we've done it!" Maidstone defender George Fowler told the BBC.

"Everyone would have said we were the underdogs today, but we dug in, stayed organised, rode our luck, which you have to at times when you come up against such class opposition. But yes, we're over the moon.

"My first job was making a block on the line in the first minute and I thought to myself, 'I knew this was going to be tough, but this is a bit early!' Like I said, we had to ride our luck, stick at it, be organised, and credit to the team, every man worked so, so hard today."

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The signs looked ominous for Maidstone in the game's opening stages as Ipswich hit the post twice in the first 10 minutes.  

But Maidstone grew into the contest and went ahead when Reynolds raced in behind the Ipswich defence and showed great composure to chip the ball over goalkeeper Christian Walton.

Ipswich deservedly equalised in the 56th minute when Sarmiento squeezed a shot through the legs of Maidstone defender Gavin Hoyte to deceive goalkeeper Lucas Covolan. 

Just when it seemed as though Ipswich would get the better of the team from the National League South, Maidstone got themselves back in front when Reynolds fed a pass to Corne, who made no mistake with his finish at the near post.

Despite the fact that the two clubs are separated by almost 100 places in the English football pyramid, Ipswich couldn't find a way to force a replay as a combination of Covolan's saves and the woodwork frustrated the Championship side and gave Maidstone a historic victory. 

Maidstone, who are coached by former Wolves defender George Elokobi, will discover the identity of their opponents in the fifth round when the draw takes place Sunday, Jan. 28.

"There were a few tears," Elokobi told the BBC after the final whistle. "We have come to Ipswich, with their history, they are flying high in the Championship, and for our group of players to be clapped off is amazing. History has been made here and back in my country, Cameroon. It is an inspirational moment for us all.

"Always believe there is hope and fate. Always stay humble and respectful, and if you do that you can create a group like we have done.

"Our boys have run themselves into the ground and that is what we said, 'Leave nothing in the changing room.' This binds us for life, what out boys are achieving right now. What our boys are achieving now has not been done [for] over 100 years. The magic of the FA Cup is very much alive."