A late winner from Shaq Couthirst deep in stoppage time gave Maidstone United their first win of the season at the Gallagher Stadium in dramatic circumstances.
It had looked as though this game was heading for a replay after both sides had scored penalties at the end of the first half but once again, a decent delivery from Ben Brookes carved out the opportunity for the Stones to book their place in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Maidstone United made two changes from the side that beat Enfield Town. On-loan signing Antony Papadopoulos started in midfield with Harry Lodovica, who joined the Stones from Inverness Caldedonian Thistle, also making his debut.
The first half was a much better affair than when these two sides met earlier this season. With five minutes gone, Alfie Williams crossed from the right and Bunmi Babajide headed well wide and over from a good position.
It wasn’t long before the Stones went very close to opening the scoring. Some excellent play from Matt Bentley saw him nip in to win the ball deep in the Hampton half. Bentley slipped the ball into Aaron Blair whose shot crashed off the cross bar and from the rebound, Lodovica could only guide his effort straight into Ted Curd’s hands.
Babajide then lifted a nice pass to Mauro Vilhete. Vilhete’s rising curling effort was heading in until Alexis Andre Jr intervened with a fine save to tip the ball over the bar.
On 29 minutes Curd came rushing out of his goal. Bentley had the opportunity to lob the Hampton keeper but put his shot well over the Town End.
Papadopoulos slipped a fine ball into Blair. Blair had much to do and he was denied by some excellent defending from Jack Taylor steered Blair away from goal.
Then not long before the break, Brookes hit a superb ball forward for Bentley to chase. Curd came off his line quickly and caught Bentley, very close to the edge of the box. A penalty was awarded and Brookes converted it.
With three minutes of stoppage time played, Hampton equalised with a penalty. Sam Smith caught James Roberts and Roberts himself sent Andre Jr the wrong way from the spot.
The visitors started the second half strongly. Kristian Campbell got past Seaman before delivering a decent cross which Babajide headed at Andre Jr. Then Hampton broke quicky and Mauro Vilhete played a nice pass into the path of James Roberts who drilled the ball wide of the right post.
Maidstone made five substitutions and this seemed to galvanise the Stones. With 77 minutes played, substitute Shaq Couthirst passed to substitute Jon Benton. Benton lifted the ball into Blair who was denied by a combination of Curd and Archy Taylor.
A long throw from Brookes nearly lead to a Stones goal not long after this. Somehow though, Archy Taylor got the ball off the line.
Three minutes into stoppage time, Maidstone came close to grabbing a winner. Brookes’ cross was headed back across by substitute Reece Greenidge and Blair got the final touch as the ball went over.
In this scramble, there was a delay for an injury to Hampton player but the Stones didn’t let this interrupt their momentum. In the 96th minute, Benton won a corner. Another excellent delivery from Brookes was headed back across by Greenidge and Coulthirst got the final touch to sent the Gallagher Stadium into raptures.
Maidstone United: Ben Brookes 44 (pen), Shaq Coulthirst 90+7
Hampton and Richmond Borough: James Roberts 45 (pen)
Maidstone United:1. Alexis Andre Jr, 11. Charlie Seaman, 2. Temi Eweka, 20. Sam Smith (4. Reece Greenidge 55), 5.George Fowler, 3. Ben Brookes, 18. Bivesh Gurung (14. Tayt Trusty 62), 6. Antony Papadopoulos (12. Arj Kransinqi 73), 16. Matt Bentley (10. Shaq Coulthirst, 73), 15. Harry Lodovica (7. Jon Benton 64), 9. Aaron Blair. Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden, 19. Pierre Fonkeu.
Hampton and Richmond Borough: 1. Ted Curd, 3. Kristian Campbell, 8. Josh Keeya, 9. James Roberts, 14. Odei Martin Sorondo (2. Billy French 63), 16. Jack Taylor, 17. Bunmi Babajide (7. Alex Wall 81), 19. Archy Taylor, 20. Mauro Vilhete (27. Jaden Brissett 75), 24. Dominic Revan, 32. Alfie Williams. Subs not used: 13. Ollie Davies, 18. Renedi Masampu, 23. Gianni Crichlow, 29. Callum O’Keffe.
