Ruben Carvalho’s first goals for the Stones helped them on their way, as they safely progressed to the Quarter-Finals of the GoCardless Kent Senior Cup.

With fringe players needing minutes, George Elokobi made nine changes to the side that defeated Dagenham & Redbridge at the weekend.

It was Herne Bay that started the better as they looked to use the flanks effectively and get target man Alfie Bloomfield on the end of crosses which they did in the early stages as he headed an effort over the bar from a quick corner in the first 10 minutes.

Carvalho who was involved in the vast majority of attacks during the first half for the Stones looked for the back post where Jephte Tanga was lurking. Tanga set the ball back towards Sam Corne who looked to lunge himself at the shot but an important block from the Herne Bay defender saw the ball sail into keeper Joe Coleman’s arms.

Seasiders right back Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo was nearly punished for failing to clear his lines when the ball fell to Carvalho inside the box. Despite cutting on the outside of his man, the angle was slightly against the Stones winger as his shot went over the bar. Carvalho then nearly scored direct from a corner which needed to be headed off the line at the back post by experienced midfielder Scott Heard.

Kamani Mcfarlane who was a danger for Herne Bay in the first 45, got a clear sight of goal when he looked for the bottom left hand corner, but for Lenny Holden to get down low, nice and quick to parry the ball to safety. The Bay winger should have opened the scoring shortly before the break as he found himself unmarked at the back post from a low ball across the 6 yard box, but a combination of Holden and Malachi Mbogba looked to put Mcfarlane off as he blazed the shot over from close range.

The Stones did eventually find the breakthrough in added time when Riley Court’s ball around full back Rhys Wyborn looked to have strong suspicions of offside as Carvalho raced through before slotting past Coleman to grab his first goal since his summer move from Maidenhead United.

Herne Bay came out and started the second period with a bit more intensity but Hazmad Kargbo nearly punished them when he got a good view of the goal from the edge of the box. Kargbo looked for the similar shot Mcfarlane tried in the first half and like Holden, Coleman was equal to the effort.

Bloomfield could well have got the Isthmian League South East side back on level terms when he received the ball around the penalty spot but for a superb tackle from Leo Hamblin to deny what looked like an inevitable equaliser.

It proved to be important as the Stones grabbed their second goal just moments later when Riley Court started a promising counter attack which eventually found the impressive Tanga who played it low to Carvalho before tucking away his second of the evening from 10 yards out.

Game control was the aim of the game for the Stones for the majority of the second half but substitute Jesse Nwabueze went looking for his first goal for the club when he cut inside on the edge of the box before seeing his shot go inches away from the post.

Sam Oguntayo put the icing on the cake as he finished neatly at the back post from a corner to grab his first for the Stones and seal a good night’s work for Elokobi’s men who take their first step towards what hopefully could be a record 20th Kent Senior Cup trophy.

Herne Bay: –

Maidstone United: Ruben Carvalho 45+1’, 55’, Sam Oguntayo 90’

Herne Bay: 1. Joe Coleman (C), 2. Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo (16. Joe Alatise 39 mins), 3. Rhys Wyborn, 4. Alfie Cutbush (15. Jared Williams 69 mins), 5. James Rogers, 6. Louie Procopi, 8. Scott Heard (17. Joe Denny 85 mins), 9. Alfie Bloomfield (14. Jamie Lartice 69 mins), 10. Harvey Brand, 11. James Jeffrey, 19. Kamani Mcfarlane (12. Jude Sutton 85 mins).

Maidstone United: 13. Lenny Holden, 3. Leo Hamblin, 6. TJ Bramble (4. Lexus Beeden 68 mins), 7. Jephte Tanga (22. Teo Kurtaran 71 mins), 8. Sam Corne (C), 14. Kweku Lucan, 17. Riley Court, 18. Sam Oguntayo, 19. Ruben Carvalho (12. Dajon Golding 76 mins), 21. Malachi Mbogba, 23. Hazmad Kargbo (16. Jesse Nwabueze 60 mins). Sub not used: 1. Nathan Harness.