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AFC Sudbury 0 Maidstone United 3 match report

Maidstone United lift the Robert Dyas League Cup Picture: Martin Apps
Maidstone United lift the Robert Dyas League Cup Picture: Martin Apps

Maidstone United have won the Isthmian League Cup for the first time after a 3-0 win over AFC Sudbury on Tuesday night.

Michael Phillips gave them a half-time lead and Frannie Collin made sure of victory with a late double, including a penalty, as Stones' Ryman North opponents finished with 10 men.

Jay Saunders' men had home advantage for the final but were technically the away side at the Gallagher Stadium.

And the Ryman League's decision to hold the game in Maidstone was vindicated by a bumper crowd of 1,797.

Ryan Horne's strike from the edge of the box was clawed out of the air by Lee Worgan as underdogs Sudbury created the first chance inside five minutes.

Zac Attwood turns in the Sudbury box Picture: Martin Apps
Zac Attwood turns in the Sudbury box Picture: Martin Apps

Stones forced five corners early on but it took them almost 15 minutes to work keeper Alex Archer, who made a comfortable save from a Frannie Collin free-kick.

Steve Watt took the ball off Ben Thompson's toe with a decent slide tackle midway through the half.

Jack Parkinson was inches away from connecting in the six-yard box at the other end after Watt met Phillips' corner on the half-hour.

Watt then hit the bar with a header from Tom Mills' ball forward as United started to turn the screw.

Maidstone went in front on 38 minutes with Phillips heading in the rebound after Archer parried Alex Brown's low strike from the edge of the box following an exchange of passes with Jack Harris.

Maidstone's players celebrate the opening goal Picture: Martin Apps
Maidstone's players celebrate the opening goal Picture: Martin Apps

Zac Attwood rolled an effort wide soon after but it took an excellent Worgan save from Ryan Henshaw at the far post to keep Stones ahead at the end of the first half.

Maidstone made a bright start to the second half with Brown having a goal ruled out for offside after neat footwork by Attwood.

Sudbury looked short on ideas but did work Worgan through Jamie Forshaw's strike just past the hour.

Substitute Stephen Butcher thumped an effort against the bar from 20 yards with Archer well beaten as Stones threatened again.

Harris then picked up Attwood's pass and ran at the away defence before unleashing a stinging drive that was well held.

Sudbury had the ball in the net with 15 minutes left but Henshaw's header at a corner was ruled out for a push on Worgan.

Stones doubled their lead on 83 minutes with Collin's penalty after Henshaw fouled Attwood and received his second yellow card.

Kiernan Mason-Hughes drilled an effort wide after a strong run took him past two players, before Collin completed victory by racing through one-on-one to beat Archer in injury-time.

Maidstone: Worgan, Sullivan, Mills, Watt, Brown (Robertson 86mins), Phillips, D Parkinson (Butcher 63mins), J Parkinson, Attwood, Collin, Harris (Hughes-Mason 77mins). Subs not used: Hayes, Godmon.

Attendance: 1,797.

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