GEORGE HAS GOT IT MAID

WHEN THE final whistle blew at 2.27pm last Saturday, the Maidstone United players scattered round the Portman Road pitch as 4,472 jubilant away fans erupted.

- Matt Badcock

Some jumped around, some stood there in disbelief. Others burst into tears.

The National League South side had just stunned Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time.

Boss George Elokobi had been talking about his ‘history makers’ for weeks.

“I need to find a new word to describe what they’ve done,” the Stones boss said.

There’s no hiding there was a tinge of disappointment in the Stones’ Spitfire Lounge on Sunday afternoon when, down to the last four balls of the draw with Manchester City’s still in the hat, they were drawn away to the winners of Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry City. But the game will be played on Monday, February 26 and bank a cool £125,00 live TV fee.

The club’s X account joked they’d already completed the Championship but, whoever they face, you can bet it will be full of belief once again.

“Every football match is winnable,” Elokobi said. “It doesn’t matter who you draw, you have to show them respect. When that time comes we are going to be ready and we’ll give our best as a football club.”

They have every right to believe. Yes, they rode their luck at times as Ipswich peppered Lucas Covolan’s goal, particularly early on, but they grew into the game.