A 20th Kent Senior Cup title is still on the cards for the Stones as they squeezed past a young Charlton Athletic side to put their name into the hat for the last 4 of what’s been a historical competition for the club.

George Elokobi elected for a pretty strong side despite making 8 changes to the side that defeated Bath City at the weekend including the welcome return of Taylor Foran after a month out with injury.

It nearly got off to the worst possible start when Jacob Safa had the goal at his mercy from close range by Lenny Holden made a key save to stop an early Addicks opener. The Stones looked to make the most of a night like this by trying new ways of keeping the ball and opening pockets of space but ultimately they were hit with a sucker punch 10 minutes in. Following Riley Court’s foul right on the edge of the box, Toby Bowen stepped up and with a little bit of help from a deflection, the ball sailed past Holden to give Charlton a deserved lead.

The goal did wake the Stones up as they started to play with a bit more intent and just 10 minutes later, found their equaliser. Holden’s long kick was flicked on by Hamzad Kargbo before John Gilbert managed to get round his man before slotting past keeper Tommy Reid from 12 yards out to level the score.

Momentum was with the Stones after as they created some good opportunities to take the lead. Leo Hamblin’s cross found the obvious target of Kargbo whose header went just wide of the post. Dajon Golding then had a strong shout for a penalty after looking to have been brought down but the ref waved it away before Golding looked to trickle a shot past Reid but the effort was cleared off the line.

Ruben Carvalho, whose still building his match fitness looked to give Ethan Brown a tough ride as he beat him down the left hand side before seeing his whipped cross have Kargbo flying for it but the header went into the side netting. In a little bit of rest-bite for the Addicks, Reuben Reid turned Malachi Mbogba just before the break before seeing his shot strike the roof of the Town End.

In a fairly even start to the second half, John Gilbert perhaps got away with a potential foul inside the Charlton box before seeing his near post shot tipped wide by Reid. He would eventually get his second when Golding’s tackle on the edge of the box deflected into the path of the Stones number 10 before he managed to squeeze the ball into the bottom right hand corner despite Reid getting a good hand to it.

It was nearly a hat-trick for our playmaker in the middle as his powerful drive from a free kick right on the edge of the box was superbly pushed around the post by Reid.

However, there wasn’t anything he could do with the other power driver from Deon Moore as Gilbert looked to try and play the ball to the opposite side for Sam Corne but the interception from the Charlton defender turned out to be a fortunate one for the Stones substitute as he hit it first time at Reid’s near post to grab our third of the night.

Charlton’s youngsters refused to give up and across the night made a good account of themselves. They were handed a route back into the game with 5 minutes to go when Lenny Holden’s loose throw out towards Hamblin was taken away by substitute Henry Rylah who looked to round the Stones keeper but was brought down and resulted in an inevitable spot kick. Holden however, made up for the error as he made a brilliant top right handed save from Bowen’s penalty to push it over the bar.

There was just about enough time for the Addicks to make the Stones a little nervous as Max Kuezynski got on the end of Bowen’s free kick to the back post to reduce the deficit with 2 minutes of stoppage to go. It turned out to be too little, too late as the Stones march on to the Semi-Finals.

Maidstone United: John Gilbert 20’, 64’, Deon Moore 80’

Charlton Athletic U21s: Toby Bowen 10’, Max Kuezynski 90+3’

Maidstone United: 13. Lenny Holden, 3. Leo Hamblin, 8. Sam Corne (C) (18. Timi Olagbemi 90 mins), 10. John Gilbert, 12. Dajon Golding, 15. David Agbontohoma (22. Juan Sanchez Manrique 90 mins), 17. Riley Court, 19. Ruben Carvalho (16. Farron Chime 74 mins), 21. Malachi Mbogba, 23. Hamzad Kargbo (9. Deon Moore 74 mins), 24. Taylor Foran (4. Lexus Beeden 77 mins).

Charlton Athletic U21s: 1. Tommy Reid, 2. Ethan Brown, 3. Max Kuezynski, 4. Reuben Assiah, 5. Joshua Laqeretabua (C), 6. Ollie Holden (16. Henry Rylah 73 mins), 7. Reuben Reid (12. Bradley Togofe 67 mins), 8. Jacob Safa, 9. Paris Lock, 10. Kai Enslin, 11. Toby Bowen. Subs not used: 13. George Hardy, 14. Takudzwa Muvhuti, 15. Ellis McMillan.