Levi Amantchi scored twice for the second week running as Maidstone progressed in the FA Cup.

His goals came five minutes apart early in the second half and gave United victory over lower-league Winchester in the Third Qualifying Round.

Strike partner Sol Wanjau-Smith hit the bar with a Panenka-style penalty as Maidstone missed the chance to give themselves breathing space, although pictures later showed the ball appeared to bounce down over the line.

But it was a case of job done for the visitors after overcoming a poor first half to reach final qualifying.

Harry Kyprianou, who scored on this ground in the FA Cup last season for Weymouth, came in for his full debut.

He replaced the injured Bivesh Gurung in the only change from United’s 4-0 league win over Worthing last weekend.

The former Cyprus under-21 international slotted into the backline, with Sam Bone pushed into midfield.

A goalless first half in Hampshire was largely forgettable.

Winchester, who play a level below the Stones in Southern League Premier South, were well in a scrappy game.

If anything, they looked the more threatening at times, particularly when they worked the ball to the right wing.

Maidstone seemed to struggle with a difficult pitch, which was as bobbly and bumpy as they come, and found it difficult to find any sort of rhythm in the opening 45.

They did, though, have by far the best chance of the half with Amantchi laying the ball on a plate for the unmarked Lamar Reynolds, who fired over.

Wanjau-Smith headed narrowly wide from a Reynolds cross, after good work by Raphe Brown, but that was pretty much it for the Stones bar a couple of wayward efforts.

At the other end, Lucas Covolan had a few crosses to deal with and, shortly before the break, saved well from Simba Mlambo.

The game was crying out for a goal and Maidstone got one in just the second minute of the second half.

Bone’s strike from the edge of the box came back off the post, hit Amantchi and went in, seemingly without him knowing too much about it.

A second soon followed as Maidstone doubled their lead in the 52nd minute.

Amantchi knew exactly what he was doing this time as he latched on to Kyprianou’s ball over the top, rounded keeper Charlie Philpott and found the empty net.

Maidstone could have had a third on 66 minutes when Wanjau-Smith was cleaned out in the box.

However, his Panenka-style penalty hit the bar and bounced down.

He ran off celebrating but referee Robert Ablitt wasn’t convinced the ball had crossed the line and it remained 2-0.

Winchester substitute Warren Bentley went close for the hosts after the ball dropped in the box with 10 minutes left.

Winchester: Philpott, McCormick, King, Griggs, Rose, Nolan, Caborn (Bentley 61mins), Smith (Balmer 72mins), Wright, Mlambo, Hill (Lynch 76mins). Subs not used: Jamison, Birchall, Jones, Barron.

Maidstone: Covolan, Brown, Fowler, Yyprianou, Reynolds, Bone, Aransibia, Ezennolim, Kelly (Corne 72mins), Amantchi (Coleman De-Graft 62mins), Wanjau-Smith (Obi 83mins). Subs not used: Greenidge, Coleman De-Graft, Earle, Petrasso, Court.

Referee: Robert Ablitt.

Attendance: 549.