Ipswich Town 1-2 Maidstone United - Match Report
Saturday, 27th Jan 2024 14:40 Town’s FA Cup run came to an embarrassing end at the fourth round stage as National League South Maidstone United defeated the Blues 2-1 at Portman Road. The Kent side, 99 places and four divisions below Town, went in front via Lamar Reynolds’s goal two minutes prior to half-time, before the Blues levelled on 56 via Jeremy Sarmiento and from there looked set to go on to win it. But Portman Road was stunned once again by Sam Corne’s second for the Stones and Town huffed and puffed without being able to find another equaliser, and crashed out of the cup.
Boss Kieran McKenna made 10 changes with George Edmundson the only player remaining from Monday’s 1-1 Championship draw away against leaders Leicester City.
Christian Walton was in goal with Dominic Ball at right-back and Cameron Humphreys on the left with Axel Tuanzebe and Edmundson the centre-halves.
Skipper Sam Morsy returned in central midfielder alongside Jack Taylor with Omari Hutchinson and Sarmiento, making his full Town debut, the widemen with Sone Aluko in the middle and Nathan Broadhead the out-and-out striker.
Town named a strong bench but with young striker Gerrard Buabo and keeper Cieran Slicker joining the likes of Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin, Leif Davis and Luke Woolfenden.
For Maidstone, the lowest-ranked side still in the competition with 4,472 fans in the Cobbold Stand, forward Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong returned to the side for the first time since the 1-0 victory over League One Stevenage in the last round and new signing Manny Duku starts.
Former Town defender George Fowler was also in the XI, while one-time Blues trialist Reiss Greenidge was on the bench.
As was to be expected, the Blues dominated from the off and in the second minute Hutchinson crossed from the right, Humphreys knocked back at the far post and Broadhead turned it against Fowler, the ball cannoning off the Wales international and out for a goalkick.
Four minutes later, Sarmiento went very close to his first Portman Road goal, the on-loan Brighton man hitting a low effort from distance which beat Stones keeper Lucas Covolan and struck his right post. The ball bounced out to Hutchinson on the edge of the box to the right but the Chelsea loanee’s rebound was too close to Covolan, who claimed.
It continued to be all Town and in the eighth minute, the Blues hit the woodwork again. Hutchinson cut in from the right and hit a shot which deflected off Sam Corne, wrong-footing Covolan but this time hit the keeper’s left post.
Maidstone made heavy weather of getting the ball clear and Edmundson was able to pick it up on the edge of the area but shot across the face and wide.
Broadhead should have made 1-0 in the 12th minute, Aluko threading it through for the Welshman, who found himself one-on-one with Covolan, but was thwarted by the keeper’s outstretched left leg.
Three minutes later, Hutchinson curled an effort from the edge of the box, which Covolan palmed wide with the game still one-way traffic. From the corner, Edmundson headed over.
On 17, Morsy shot from distance and Covolan pawed wide at his right post with the ball destined for the corner of the net.
Four minutes later, Aluko sent Hutchinson away down the right and the winger cut in and hit another shot, this time a deflection off Paul Appiah diverting it wide.
From the corner, Edmundson should have scored. The defender was given a free header six yards out at the far post, but the ball scuffed off his head and well wide.
Maidstone subsequently had a period of respite and even had a couple of forays forward but without too much concern for Town, before Sarmiento shot over on the turn from 20 yards in the 29th minute. Soon after, Walton had the ball in his hands for the first time after coming off his line to claim a through ball.
Morsy curled over left-footed in the 32nd minute as the Blues continued to look for their opening goal.
Three minutes later, Sarmiento brought the ball forward from inside the Town half before hitting a 20-yard shot which deflected off Appiah and over.
As the game passed the 40-minute mark, Town had two more chances to go in front. First, Sarmiento played in Humphreys on the left of the area, the youngster sending over a low cross which Taylor seemed destined to turn in until Broadhead with his back to goal intervened and hit an effort on the turn which was blocked.
The ball came out to Ball, who played a clever pass in for Aluko, who scuffed well wide from 10 yards out when the veteran should have scored.
Taylor hit another shot which deflected over in the 43rd minute and following the resultant flag-kick, the visitors went in front.
Maidstone broke quickly down the right and a superb ball from the right by Liam Sole played Lamar Reynolds in on goal with Town caught short of numbers at the back and the former Braintree man delicately clipped the ball over the advanced Walton to send the travelling support and bench wild, the players piling on top of one another on the touchline.
There was no time for Town to hit back before referee Anthony Taylor blew his whistle to a huge roar from the Stones fans.
The Blues had been hit by a sucker punch - Maidstone’s only serious attack of the game - having missed innumerable chances to go in front, although their attacks had lost something of their earlier impetus the near the game had got towards half-time.
Ball struck the first shot of the second half four minutes after the restart but hit Aluko and it looped wide.
Maidstone were next to threaten, Town failing to clear their lines on a couple of occasions and allowing an attack to reach the penalty area but Sam Bone’s effort from the area was easy for Walton.
On 52, Broadhead almost played in Hutchinson but the Wales international’s through ball was just too strong and Covolan was able to slide in and clutch it to his chest.
It had been a not entirely convincing opening to the half by the Blues but on 56 they levelled.
Appiah lost possession having brought the ball forward after what looked to be a foul on Aluko just outside the box. Taylor strode forward towards the area and fed Sarmiento to his left and the Ecuadorian international cut in and hit a low shot to Covolan’s right and into the corner of the net.
The on-loan Brighton man’s second goal in a week and first at Portman Road came as a great relief to a Portman Road which had begun to show signs of nervousness.
Town immediately made their first changes, Harry Clarke, Leif Davis and Conor Chaplin replacing Ball, Humphreys and Aluko.
Chaplin wasn’t far away from putting the Blues in front on the hour, Davis playing a now-familiar low corner from the left towards the penalty spot but the Town top scorer shot over.
The Blues continued to dominate and create chances, Sarmiento hitting a low cross from the right against his standing leg and wide, then scuffing another effort through to Covolan.
However, on 66, the non-league side restored their lead. Sarmiento lost possession in the middle of the pitch - with his shirt appearing to have been pulled - giving it to Reynolds on the left from where the earlier goalscorer played a ball inside for Corne, who took it into the box before clinically finishing past Walton. The away fans were again sent into delirium.
Town went about looking for a second equaliser, Wes Burns and Gerrard Buabo replacing Sarmiento and Hutchinson for the final 22 minutes.
Clarke hit a shot which Covolan gathered in the 72nd minute, then two minutes later Burns was fed in on the right of the box by the former Arsenal youngster, but shot across the face of goal and wide.
On 77 the Blues were denied the most stonewall of penalties, Edmundson going past Duku on the left of the box before being tripped. Referee Taylor failed to give the spot-kick and to add insult to injury booked Edmundson for diving. Video replays suggested it was a very poor decision from the Premier League official.
The game continued to played almost entirely in the Maidstone final third, the Blues prodding and probing and looking for openings but all too often finding Maidstone players in their way and Covolan saving from Chaplin.
As the game moved towards the final 10 minutes, Buabo sent a dangerous low ball across the edge of the six-yard box but with no teammate there to add the final touch.
Town almost levelled in 85th minute, Chaplin powering a header goalwards from a corner and Covolan palming into the air. The ball dropped and following an almighty scramble in which no one was able to get in a clean shot, the keeper gratefully dived on it. Play was subsequently delayed due to several Stones players feeling the effects of cramp.
The Blues continued to look for their second goal but without particularly convincing, however, in the final scheduled minute, as the fourth official indicated eight additional minutes, Burns headed goalwards from a Morsy cross and Covolan did well to get across to his top corner and palm over.
The Blues subsequently won a succession of corners but without being able to test the keeper further with the Maidstone defence remaining resolute.
Buabo flicked a header which Covolan saved as time started to run out for an increasingly frustrated-looking Town side.
And with seconds left on the clock, Clarke stood up a cross from the right and Edmundson looped a header into Covolan’s arms.
But Taylor’s final whistle signalled that time had run out for Town and the visiting fans cheered a famous day for their club and a humbling one for the Blues.
The Maidstone players and fans continued their celebrations long after the final whistle, and deservedly so after continuing their remarkable cup run, which has now taken in defeats of sides from Leagues One and Two, and the Championship.
Town were left to rue failing to take the bagful of chances in the first half and then conceding counter-attacking goals, Maidstone’s only two real chances all afternoon.
The shots total of 38-2 illustrated the overall balance of the game but it was Maidstone who made their two count.
Having got back on terms, there seemed only one winner but the Blues for a second time allowed the Stones to break away and score.
From there, the visitors defended steadfastly with Covolan in goal handling confidently, while Town ran out of ideas and lacked a cutting edge, as they did in a number of Championship games over Christmas. A striker, ideally two, is a must before the transfer window closes next Thursday.
The Blues last lost to non-league opposition in 2017 when they were beaten 1-0 at Lincoln and most recently at home when they were defeated 3-2 by Peterborough in 1960.
Town are next in action in the Championship at Preston North End next Saturday afternoon.
Town: Walton, Ball (Clarke 57), Tuanzebe, Edmundson, Humphreys (Davis 57), Morsy (c), Taylor, Hutchinson (Burns 68), Aluko (Chaplin 57), Sarmiento ( Buabo 59), Broadhead. Unused: Slicker, Woolfenden, Travis, Harness.
Maidstone: Covolan, Hoyte (c), Fowler, Appiah, Berkeley-Agyepong (Gurung 63), Corne, Duku, Reynolds (Court 74), Kyprianou, Bone (Iandolo 74), Sole (Greenidge 59). Unused: Earle, Ezennolim, Court, Smith. Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire). Att: 27,763 (4,472).
Photo: Lucy Copsey/Focus Images Ltd/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
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BrettenhamBlue added 23:35 - Jan 27
Negatives
Truly woeful result that we will be reminded of for many, many years to come. Badly in need of two or even three strikers.
Positives
We kept possession well and created chance after chance (unfortunately for invisible strikers). No injuries.
It's a massive result for Maidstone. If they get a good draw in the next round it could be worth 1-1.5 million pounds, massive for any club especially if you are in Tier 6. Most of their players are part-time and holding down other jobs (electricians,fish and chip shop etc) so this could give them the opportunity to go full time?
It's a shame we don't have that money now in this transfer window. I'm apprehensive about who we end up signing.
How long is Ahadme out for and could he make a return? What about El Mizouni? |  | |
Mariner1974 added 23:55 - Jan 27
Yeh but TexasTom when you spout nonsense like this you sound like Texas homeboy George W Bush - 'Ipswich can’t handle pressure and players go missing or don’t perform. It is a a Club Characteristic, but today was just shocking'.
Yeh labelling this bunch of players and manager as part of a tradition of Ipswich teams that 'go missing'. Yeh we've really been bottling it last season when we won all those crucial games and scored all those goals to get promoted, and we've continued that same shocking club characteristic of being Second in the Table again this season. This Ipswich team really can't handle pressure...Come on mate. They've proved it time and again that they can.
& then that this game would put kids off for life who'd come to watch Ipswich for the first time..
It's like Children in Need on here. Everyone worried for the young folk for what they had to witness.
Like kids are gonna be scarred for life from watching Omari and Sarmiento torment their defence and run rings around their defenders. If I was a kid watching that game today I'd be lovin' watching those two in action, and would have enjoyed the great atmosphere from being at a Cup game. These kids don't have the same monkeys on their backs that some of you guys do.
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MBG added 00:37 - Jan 28
I’m angry and in disbelief but I’m trying to keep a sense of perspective. Ok, we played poorly, but given the number of chances created if we had won by five goals no-one would have said the scoreline flattered us. Freak results happen. It’s what makes football what it is. Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in their opening match at the 2022 World Cup and then went on to win the tournament. It’s how we respond to this result that matters. We have to keep the faith. | | |
Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:47 - Jan 28
I've been part of some adverse cup scores and setbacks involving this club name but today kind of delivered it to new lows. Reached something of an absolute nadir regards disbelief / embarrassment / disappointment (delete as applicable)
Can't quite understand how the team lost. Put out a strong team and with a home advantage, over 90 minutes it should have been a straight-forward win but somehow managed to lose. Resentment and hurt doesn't really cover it.
Best course of direction here is to move on, brush it under the rug and out of sight. Does no good to dwell on the shortcomings from it, it's upsetting if not damn bizarre but we've been been beaten many times before by lower league opposition in games of this nature.
only thing this time being Maidstone seem so far below us in league structure and such an unrecognized name it just appears far more prevalent than past setbacks. The best way the team and McKenna can redeem themselves from this mess is to deliver top league / EPL soccer for us in a few months from now. The fans from today for sure deserve something back.
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FrankMarshall added 03:21 - Jan 28
Live in Asia.
Went out for a morning coffee today to a Sports bar. They had the game on repeat with loads of people watching and jeering. Bought my coffee and hurriedly left.
Ipswich 2024 vs Maidstone will live on long in the memory. It'll always be a reference point for years to come unless (somehow) Maidstone go on to beat someone bigger in the next round.
I thought the days of humiliation and embarrassment were behind us,only to discover that we have hit an all time low. For many neutrals abroad, this will be what we will be remembered for. Unless we get promoted and win something major in the Premier League. |  | |
BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 05:18 - Jan 28
Still all over the news here, hopefully they'll get bored of the story in a couple of days and consign it to history. |  | |
bobble added 06:26 - Jan 28
maidstone beating us at home , dokivich out of the open and lets hope the windies beat australia in brissie for a great weekend for sport...... |  | |
grumpyoldman added 08:04 - Jan 28
TexaTom. History lesson n 2013 a National League team playing away beat a Premier league team.
Norwich 0 Luton 1!!! | | |
Wooly74 added 09:30 - Jan 28
Freak results happen in football, but for so many of you plastic fans to turn on your team in the manner you have is incredibly shocking. Hang your heads in shame, it’s got nothing about passion and all the rest of the bulls*it I’ve read against this post. Results like this have happened throughout time, if you don’t take your changes and the football gods allow them to take their only two good luck to them. I stand by my original comments, many of you can’t even regularly go if this is your reaction to a cup loss. Get a grip ffs and get behind the lads, look at our own journey over the last 18 months. | | |
Broadbent23 added 09:42 - Jan 28
Gladiators READY (No). Contestants READY (Yes). After sleeping on the result, We must take it with a pinch of salt. Bad but we regroup and move on towards promotion. | | |
atty added 10:01 - Jan 28
Broadbent23. I’ve slept on it and I don’t feel any better. Probably the hangover after drowning my sorrows. | | |
chalky added 10:23 - Jan 28
The best thing waas the interview with Wark and Burley at half time. Now there was quality. Our central defence is ponderous on the turn and we have no cutting edge. All the pretty football is no use if we cannot score. . Please acquire two strikers this week or the season will fizzle out. | | |
Carberry added 10:44 - Jan 28
Mariner1974 have you sobered up yet? Must be one a helluva hangover you've got this morning. | | |
Westy added 10:50 - Jan 28
The day after and yes it did really happen. Beaten at our place by a team 99 places lower than us in the league pecking order. When Sutton as a non-league club beat Coventry the game was at Sutton. When Hereford beat Newcastle it was at Hereford and when Colchester beat Leeds it was at Colchester and in all cases tthere was not such a big gap in relative position. But this is now part our history to be re-played Nationally and Internationally every year when the FA Cup comes around. And what an opportunity missed to progress to the next round where 7 or 8 lower division clubs will be present and a great chance to progress again. Ten changes but we still should have enough to beat a National League South team despite a clear foul against Samiento in the build up to their second goal that made him fall and misplace his pass that was intercepted and Edmondson being denied a clear penalty. I'll do my best to forget until the FA Cup comes around again when it will be shown everywhere but fear this is now tattooed on my brain. | | |
Broadbent23 added 10:55 - Jan 28
Atty. I was in my teens when I watched Town lose against West Ham in the FA Cup semi back in 1975 and I cried on the coach back to Ipswich. Look what we achieved in the next few years. FA Cup winners and UEFA Cup winners. The future will be better. | | |
TimmyH added 11:20 - Jan 28
Broadbent23 - yes the West Ham semi-final matches x 2 (will stick in the throat for many Town supporters of a certain age)...if you want to know about bad refereeing look no further! robbed by that pillock Clive Thomas. Supporters would be spitting feathers if that happened now. |  | |
dirtydingusmagee added 11:57 - Jan 28
Bobble ,are you really that stupid ? [asking for a friend ] |  | |
Chickenstochurchmans added 11:59 - Jan 28
TimmyH. Come on, give the bloke a break. I thought by now most people knew why we lost the 75 semi & then won the 78 semi. See my blog; A Fable from the Past from Sept 2022. It had nothing to do with bad refereeing. | | |
dirtydingusmagee added 12:00 - Jan 28
Well its the morning after, all our buckets are full of puke, time to freshen up and move on ,a big response now against Preston . COYB . | | |
DerryfromBury added 12:15 - Jan 28
@TonyHumesIpswich your response to @londontractorboy sums up yesterday's performance perfectly.
For a club that could do no wrong over the last 18monts, I'm bemused, we've known from the moment we all witnessed George Hirst limping off, that we would need to line up a replacement for at least the remainder of the season if not beyond, and here we are with with less than a week before the window shuts we find ourselves with not one championship/premiership proven striker in the camp, and by all accounts it would appear we don't have one in our sights. If we did, after yesterdays performance their selling club has increased their assets value somewhat. The time for "No comment" when the question of a striker is raised, has run its course.
Having said that the big positive from our action in this window, should be complemented with yesterdays MoM JS what an addition he has proved to be in the few appearance's since he arrived. Pitty its not a permanent rather than a loan deal.
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Mariner1974 added 14:37 - Jan 28
Believe it or not Carberry I was sober as a judge! I get fuelled by watching people over react and lose the plot. One game where we could have been 3-0 up after 15 mins, and we managed to lose the game. It happens sometimes! We've been playing out of our skins for 2 years. Let's get behind the team and keep the belief that they have. | | |
Carberry added 15:20 - Jan 28
So you don't think calling people on here 'pant soilers' is not over reacting and losing the plot, however fuelled up you are? It's unacceptable and just negates every comment you make, valid or not. | | |
SickParrot added 15:37 - Jan 28
At full-time I was angry that we had lost to a sixth tier team. The anger has now gone but I still feel very disappointed and let down. It's probably my own fault though, because I really believed that embarrasing cup defeats like that couldn't happen with McKenna as manager.
It's true that , unlike our last embarrasing FA Cup exit at Lincoln, we can argue that we deserved to win - 38 attempts to Maidstone's 2 and bad refereeing etc. Just a freak result and nothing to worry about many say, but I disagree. I saw things yesterday that certainly worried me and that are likely to have implications over the rest of the season. I know it was not our best team, that we had no proper centre forward and that we had no luck at all, but we should never lose to a sixth tier team. My main concerns are that 25 of our 38 attempts were off target, our defending for both goals was shambolic, our set plays were hopeless, and only Sarmiento and Hutchinson (who were both excellent) and Clarke and Burns (when they came on) looked good. Most worrying (given the standard of the opposition) was that Tuanzebe couldn't handle Maidstone's number 10 and Taylor was terrible. In short, we're not as good as I thought we were.
Our current league position is of course a great achievement which, combined with drawing both games with Leicester (the best team in the league) has probably raised everyone's expectations (including mine). But I believe that we have over achieved so far this season. Even though we will probably still sign two centre forwards and a left back in this window and I expect us to make the playoffs but, what happened at Leeds, West Brom and yesterday tells me that we are still quite a way off being good enough to win promotion to the Premier League. I hope I'm wrong of course, but if we are promoted this year we would still need to replace most of the team to survive. | | |
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