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Maidstone United striker Frannie Collin says the better side won as they knocked out League 2 Stevenage in the FA Cup

Frannie Collin celebrates scoring against Stevenage. Picture: Martin Apps
Frannie Collin celebrates scoring against Stevenage. Picture: Martin Apps

Goal hero Frannie Collin felt Maidstone's stunning FA Cup win against League 2 Stevenage was no more than his team deserved.

Collin gave Stones a dream start at the Gallagher Stadium by scoring inside the first two minutes of their first round replay.

And it was his header, two minutes from, time, which sparked wild scenes all around the ground.

"We deserved it over the two games," he said. "We deserved it at their place (the first game finished 0-0) but we didn’t take our chances. We took our chances tonight and we’re in the next round.

"It is an upset – but I think we were the better team so I think we deserved it.

"If anything, we scored a bit too early. They got the goal just after half-time and we had to dig in for 10 or 15 minutes. They had a good spell and we had to stay in the game.

"A lot of people thought their fitness would have come into it but we seemed to find another gear in the last 15 or 20 minutes – and we pushed on and got the winner.

"We’re a fit bunch of lads. There are some great characters in there, Jay signed good players over the summer but he signed good characters as well. The boys look after themselves, we are part-time but we do the right things, we prepare for matchdays properly and it showed out there."

Collin paid tribute to substitute Ben Greenhalgh, whose left-wing cross with just three minutes remaining dropped perfectly on his head for the winner.

"Ben’s done brilliantly," said Collin. "He’s been out of the side for a little while and he’s had to watch. Maybe a bit unfairly he didn’t get his chances but he came on tonight and he’s put it on a plate for me, to be fair."

As for the excitement of playing in front of the cameras, with the game broadcast live on BT Sport, Collin added: "That’s the first time I’ve played in front of the cameras. In fairness, after 10 or 15 minutes, we forgot they were even there.

"It’s a great day for the club. There are a lot of people who work hard at this club so they deserve this."

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