Coventry 5-0 Maidstone: Ellis Simms’ hat-trick ends sixth-tier Stones’ dream FA Cup run, before Fabio Tavares seals a brace as the Championship side avoid an upset against National League South giantkillers
George Elokobi and his beautiful Rolling Stones pulled up on the outskirts of Coventry.
It was there where they finally ran out of luck, or FA Cup magic as it is also known. And it was there where they encountered a strong and talented team in determined mood and a striker in Ellis Simms in ruthless form.
Mark Robins and Coventry City supporters have enjoyed their own romantic dalliance with this ancient trophy and the 1987 FA Cup winners will take their place in the quarter-finals for the first time in 15 years.
Maidstone United return to the National League South. This is followed by a trip to Dover, but they will cherish this campaign in the provincial town of Kent for many years to come.
Under the careful co-ownership of Terry Casey and Oliver Ash, the £700,000 windfall will go a long way towards preserving the future of a club with a checkered past as it looks to return to the EFL.
Ellis Simms scored a first-half hat-trick for Coventry City as they defeated Maidstone United
The sixth-tier Stones had a FA Cup dream but were outmatched by Championship opposition
Those who traveled to cheer on George Elokobi’s team at CBS Arena will tell their stories
And those who have traveled to cheer on the Elokobi team will tell their stories, perhaps embellish them as they blow the foam from their Shepherd Neame, and remember goals by Sam Corne and Lamar Reynolds and saves by Lucas Covolan.
It all started at Steyning Town, located in the South Downs of West Sussex, in the second qualifying round in mid-September, and they jettisoned Winchester, Torquay and Chesham before eliminating EFL opposition in the form of League Two’s Barrow and Stevenage . of League One.
Then came the historic win at Portman Road in January, making them the first club from outside the top five to reach the last 16 since Blyth Spartans in 1978, the year Ipswich won the cup.
Blyth lost in a replay against Wrexham, but there are no more replays at this stage of the competition. In reality, it never looked like Maidstone would take Coventry to extra time, but their 4,500 fans refused to go out quietly.
They loudly supported their team until the end and Elokobi’s team responded.
Three down at half-time due to a Simms hat-trick and in danger of disappearing in a deluge, they kept the fourth goal at bay until Fabio Tavares broke through in the 87th minute. Tavares added another in stoppage time.
Five was harsh but even that could not dent Maidstone’s pride and they were warmly commended for their efforts at the end.
It had been a step too far when Simms put Coventry in charge with three goals in 26 minutes in the first half, all assisted by Kasey Palmer.
For the first time, Palmer’s pass was collected by Simms, who guided his second touch past Covolan as he raced out of his line. The goalscorer rushed to the bench to hold up the number seven shirt of his teammate Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, who was seriously injured in Friday’s defeat to Preston.
The second, almost a copy, with a Palmer pass through the center of the defense. This time it required a more difficult finish, with Simms moving away from goal and using his left foot to slice a low shot back across goal.
Two ahead in just 14 minutes played, exactly the kind of strong start Mark Robins had hoped to see from his championship team. Maidstone had managed to resist, try their luck and frustrate Ipswich by scoring a few on the counter-attack. This had suddenly become a completely different challenge.
Elokobi rearranged to a back three. His team was a little more solid and started to venture forward. Liam Sole took aim and fired a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box before Simms and Palmer combined again.
Covolan saved a thrilling drive from Palmer and Simms pounced on the rebound to score his third of the night and a hat-trick inside 26 minutes.
Kasey Palmer got a trio of early assists to guide the hosts into the FA Cup quarter-finals
Fabio Tavares broke through in the 87th minute and scored his second goal in injury time
Coventry was simply too good for anyone of the 95 places between the teams in the English football pyramid.
Robins sent on Callum O’Hare at half-time and the tie was littered with substitutions in the second half.
The home team continued to dominate, but shifted down a gear. After losing to Luton in last year’s play-off final, they have the very real ambition of promotion in their sights as the Championship reaches its end and a local skirmish with West Bromwich Albion on Friday.
As for Maidstone, these are happier times for Coventry. They are very familiar with Wembley and they are one win away from a return to Wembley. Perhaps the end of one football fairytale can mark the beginning of another.