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Maidstone United 4-1 Kings Langley match report

Maidstone came good to reach the FA Cup first round for the sixth year running.

They put a forgettable first half against Southern League Kings Langley behind them to progress with goals from Ryan Johnson, Saidou Khan, Noah Chesmain and substitute Jonny Edwards' penalty.

Maidstone boss John Still Picture: Steve Terrell
Maidstone boss John Still Picture: Steve Terrell

Roddy Collins replied from the spot deep into added time for the visitors.

At 2-0 both sides were reduced to 10 men following an off-the-ball clash between home debutant Ross Marshall and Langley’s ex-Dartford striker Harry Crawford.

Jake Cole took over from Chris Lewington in goal after missing last week’s draw at Bath, while Justin Amaluzor got the nod over Iffy Allen on the right as Maidstone made two changes.

The Stones had beaten lower-league opposition in the last two rounds without being at their best and once again they appeared to be making hard work of it at the Gallagher.

They created virtually nothing in a flat first half with the only half chance coming in added time when Amaluzor ran on to a through ball and rolled the ball past keeper Melvin Minter but it didn’t have the legs to trouble covering defender Callum Adebiyi.

Kings Langley looked a useful side, comfortable in possession and they were certainly the most positive side in the first half.

Crawford remains a good player and he looked the visitors’ brightest spark.

As well as putting a couple of early chances wide, he had the ball in the net after a lovely exchange of passes with Mitchell Weiss but celebrations were cut short with the linesman’s flag up for offside.

Weiss also looked handy and he tested Cole from outside the box in the opening minutes after getting the better of Johnson, United’s keeper getting down well to push the ball out for a corner.

There was a scare for Langley at the start of the second half when Minter, attempting to stop a corner, shanked a clearance straight to McClure but Maidstone couldn’t punish the mistake.

United did, though, take the lead in the 53rd minute with Johnson heading home a Chesmain corner for the second week running.

This one was delivered to the far post with the Maidstone centre-half climbing highest to put his side in front.

Crawford went close to a quick response before the Stones doubled their lead in the 58th minute.

Gavin Hoyte was the provider - his sixth assist this season - with a cross met by the head of Khan for his first Stones goal.

Maidstone were now well on top and went close to a third when Ibby Akanbi fed Amaluzor who cut inside and hit the side-netting.

Both sides had a man sent off after a clash between Marshall and Crawford in the 69th minute.

Marshall was fouled by the Langley man but there were afters before the free-kick was taken and referee Rob Whitton dismissed both.

Maidstone extended their lead in the 77th minute and what a strike it was, too, with Chesmain’s stunning 25-yard free-kick into the top corner with the angle seemingly very much against the left-footer.

Number four followed in the final minute of normal time, Edwards tripped in the box by Dean Hitchcock and coolly finding the bottom corner with his penalty.

Langley hit the post before Collins’ spot-kick in the sixth minute of added time.

Maidstone: Cole, Hoyte, Johnson, Elokobi, Chesmain, Marshall, Khan, Amaluzor (Edwards 80mins), McClure (Allen 80mins), Wishart, Akanbi (Kamdjo 69mins). Subs not used: Pennell, Gilbert, Kyei, Lewington.

Attendance: 1,449 (142 away).

Read more: The latest sports news in Kent

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