Maidstone United stun Ipswich Town as Sam Corne strike knocks Kieran McKenna’s side out of FA Cup

Ipswich Town fell victim to one of the greatest upsets in Emirates FA Cup history, as they were knocked out of the competition by Vanarama National League South outfit Maidstone United after a 2-1 defeat at Portman Road.

There were 98 places that seperated the two sides before kick-off and the Blues had a side out that was more than capable of avoiding the unthinkable. But, it was the third-round hero Sam Corne who slotted the ball home with real composure in the second half to send the Stones through to the last 16 of the competition.

The visitors from Kent had sent their 4,472 travelling fans into raptures in the first half as Lamar Reynolds gave George Elokobi’s side the lead with an audacious dink over Christian Walton.

Town came out with intent in the second 45 and equalised with a well-taken finish from Jeremy Sarmiento, who netted his second goal of the week.

But soon after, the Stones broke and found the winner in the 66th minute and as much as they pushed, totalling 38 attempts on goal throughout the game, the Blues could not find a leveller to spoil Maidstone’s party.

Kieran McKenna named 10 changes to his starting 11 that drew at Leicester City on Monday night, which saw only George Edmundson remain. Jeremy Sarmiento was given his first start in a Town shirt as skipper Sam Morsy returned to the matchday squad. As was the case in the third round against AFC Wimbledon, there was no place for Václav Hladký, as Cieran Slicker made his way onto the bench.

As the visitors, George Eolokobi named five changes from the Stones’ 1-1 draw at home to Brainstree Town in midweek, which included a return to 11 for Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong, for the first time since their third-round victory against Stevenage, and a first start for new signing Manny Duku. Ex-Ipswich Town man George Fowler started from the off.

As expected, McKenna’s men started the better of the two sides and it only took three minutes for them to fashion their first opportunity of the game. A deep cross from Hutchinson found Humphreys at the back post, who cut the ball back for the arriving Broadhead, but the Welshman’s effort ricocheted onto a defender, back off himself, and out for a goal kick.

The Blues started with persistence and an intent in an attempt to stop the ‘magic of the cup’ casting a spell on Portman Road. Monday’s hero Sarmiento struck the post with a low effort from 20 yards out before Omari Hutchinson’s follow-up was scrambled off the line by Lucas Covolan.

Minutes later the woodwork was struck again, as Hutchinson drove towards the edge of the area before seeing his effort deflect onto the upright with the Maidstone goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Covolan was to be called into action soon after however, as Sone Aluko’s defence-splitting pass sent Nathan Broadhead through on goal but his strike was parried away by the 32-year-old shot-stopper.

Relentlessly trying to break the deadlock, Town came forward once more. Chelsea-loanee Hutchinson fancied his chances from the edge of the area again and Covolan had to be equal to his curling effort that threatened to find the top-left corner.

The Blues had accumulated an xG of 1.10 by the 20th minute, which did not seem enough to reflect their dominance. The interchangeable front four were causing havoc for the Stones and Hutchinson was finding a lot of joy cutting inside onto his favoured left foot from the right. He saw another effort deflect just wide of the post.

From the resulting corner, Edmundson found himself unmarked at the back post, but he headed his effort into the ground and over the bar. Another golden chance went begging.

While Maidstone rarely threatened in the first 45, the roar that bellowed around Portman Road from their 4,472 travelling fans, whether that had been when their side fashioned a dangerous or attack or just won possession on the halfway line, was deafening. A real reminder of what the competition is about and the magic it still possesses.

After the early flurry of chances from the Blues, Maidstone looked relatively comfortable defending Town’s attacks after the half-hour mark. They forced Sarmiento and Morsy to have pops from range, both of which sailed over the crossbar.

The Ecuadorian international then broke with options to his left and right but opted to go for goal himself, and his strike on the counter attack zipped off the boot of Paul Appiah and onto the roof of the net.

As half-time approached, Town recorded their 17th attempt of the match and were left wondering how they were not in front. Dominic Ball scuffed his effort which fell to Aluko who, with space in the area, dragged his effort wide of the post.

Expecting both sides to head into the break with the score goalless, the Stones then stunned everyone inside the ground.

The visitors broke and a long switch of possession sent Reynolds through on goal. Opportunities were hard to come by for Eolokobi’s side, and Portman Road was left wondering whether the visitors’ number 10 had the composure needed to put his team ahead. A sumptuous dink over Walton sparked pandemonium on and off the pitch, and the shock was well and truly on.

Maidstone looked a threat on the break in the opening stages of the second half but it was a misplaced pass on the counter attack that led to Town’s equaliser.

Taylor found Sarmiento in the area and the magic man from Monday drove the ball onto his right foot before firing in at the near post, leaving Covolan no chance.

A smart finish from the Ecuadorian and a leveller that gave the Blues the platform to go and kill off the cup tie. A triple substitution from McKenna soon after, with Conor Chaplin, Leif Davis and Harry Clarke all coming on, showed that he wanted the game done and dusted as soon as possible.

But, the FA Cup does not read the scripts and while everyone would have thought the Blues were about to pile forward for the final half an hour, the Stones had other ideas.

Sarmiento lost possession on the halfway line and Elokobi’s side broke down the left through Reynolds. He turned provider to send Corne through on goal, and the third-round hero remained composed to slot the ball home past Walton.

McKenna sent on Burns, rocking a new haircut, and Buabo, and the former thought he had levelled the tie when he fired a venomous shot at goal from the right, but his strike flashed just wide of the far post.

The Blues came forward again, and it looked for all the world that they were going to be awarded a chance to equalise from 12 yards when Edmundson went down in the area. Referee Anthony Taylor took a look, put whistle to lips before pointing in the opposite direction and awarding the defender a yellow card for simulation.

VAR has its downfalls and the game is far more enjoyable and free-flowing without it, but you cannot help but feel it would have awarded penalty on that particular occasion.

Time ticked by, the upset drawing ever closer, and Town fans were left wondering if they were going to get a better chance to stay in the cup with five minutes remaining. Chaplin met Davis' corner and powered a header towards goal. It looked destined for the back of the net, but the Maidstone 'keeper clawed the ball away before gathering from the resulting scramble in the box.

And that was that. The shock completed and a mass relief of emotion poured onto the pitch from the Stones’ players. A day to forget for Town, with some of the Portman Road faithful left with no option but to applaud the efforts of the travelling side.

Ipswich Town: Walton, Ball (Clarke 59’), Edmundson, Tuanzebe, Humphreys (Davis 69’), Morsy, Taylor, Hutchinson (Buabo 69’), Aluko (Chaplin 59’), Sarmiento (Burns 69’), Broadhead

Unused Substitutes: Slicker, Woolfenden, Travis, Harness.

Maidstone United: Covolan, Hoyte (cpt), Fowler, Appiah, Berkeley-Agyepong (Gurung 63’), Corne, Duku, Reynolds, Kyprianou, Bone, Sole (Greenidge 59’).

Unused substitutes: Earle, Ezennolim, Smith.

Attendance: 27,763 (4,472 Maidstone)