Lamar Reynolds says Maidstone’s FA Cup run is the cherry on the cake following his summer transfer.

Reynolds knew he was joining an ambitious club after swapping part-time football at Braintree for life at the Gallagher Stadium.

But the winger never dreamed he’d be part of a team playing in the FA Cup fourth round.

George Elokobi’s men travel to Championship high-fliers Ipswich next weekend having already beaten two Football League clubs in Barrow and Stevenage.

“It’s been a nice step up for me,” said Reynolds, 28.

“I’d been playing part-time for a few seasons and coming in here, to this environment, it’s great.

“You get a big atmosphere and the FA Cup run has been the cherry on the cake.

“You don’t join a non-league club and expect to be in the fourth round of the FA Cup but now it’s given us a push to know what we can achieve.

“It’s opened a few eyes and made the boys understand that they’re capable of achieving the unexpected or the unthinkable. It’s the magic of the FA Cup, like the gaffer says.”

Reynolds has a good chance of facing Ipswich, too, especially with Matt Rush and Timmy Abraham cup-tied.

Indeed, he started the third-round win over Stevenage on the left of a front three, having come on against Barrow.

“I’ve got a chance,” said Reynolds.

“Whatever team the gaffer puts out, we’re all capable of doing a good job out there and we all work really hard.”

Reynolds first met Elokobi when he went on loan to Leyton Orient from Newport in 2018.

When the chance to sign for him came up, talks were only going to end one way.

“Everyone knows George,” said Reynolds.

“He’s a big, big personality and when you sit down and have a chat with him, it’s not going to be a five-minute conversation and he kind of sucks you in.

“He’s a great person, a great individual, a great leader and it shows in what he’s done with us so far this season.

“He said all the right words to get me in and I’m really enjoying it.

“I know how passionate he is about what he does and knowing you’ve got a manager like that around, you just know you can achieve something so that kind of did it for me.

“It’s a team in his mould. He’s a great leader.”

Maidstone visit Slough in National League South on Saturday (3pm), followed by a home game against Reynolds’ old club, Braintree, on Tuesday (7.45pm).

“I had a decent campaign with Braintree but I’m trying to achieve something bigger this year and hopefully I can nick a promotion,” said Reynolds.

“They’re different clubs.

“Of course, I respect them in terms of what they’re trying to do and the environment they’ve got there but here it’s a big, big club and there are big expectations.

“Everyone who comes here really wants to beat Maidstone so that puts a bit of pressure on but right now we’re all really enjoying our football. I quite like that pressure.

“I like the idea of knowing everyone wants to beat you and prove you’re not this or not that, especially when you get the win.”

Maidstone dropped to fourth in National League South after losing 2-1 at Havant last weekend.

Matt Rush gave them the lead but the Hawks hit back in the second half.