ELLIS SIMMS played party pooper by ending Maidstone’s brilliant FA Cup run with a stunning first-half hat-trick.
Having knocked out Barrow, Stevenage and Ipswich to reach the last 16, the quality between the 95 places that separated the Championship promotion contenders and the National League South side finally told.
GettyEllis Simms bagged a 26-minute hat-trick against Maidstone[/caption]
RexMaidstone were outclassed in the 5-0 defeat against Coventry[/caption]
GettyMaidstone made sure to take in the atmosphere their 5,000 travelling fans had gave them[/caption]
The £6million summer signing from Everton was in no mood to read the romantic script.
And his partner in crime Kasey Palmer, who Bristol City once paid £3.5m for, provided all three assists.
Two identical goals in the ninth and 14th minutes – Simms running onto Palmer defence-splitters before firing home gave Maidstone a mountain to climb.
And then the striker added his sixth goal in eight games by netting into an open net after Palmer saw his speculative 35-yard effort pushed into his path by Covolan.
So Maidstone’s adventure was all but over by half-time.
And then Fabio Tavares slotted two late efforts to give Coventry a flattering scoreline.
But what George Elokobi has achieved with Maidstone is nothing short of remarkable – and surely he is destined to manage in the EFL.
The non-leaguers are only the second side from the sixth tier down to reach the last 16.
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When you consider only two clubs from outside the Premier League have got that far this season – with Championship side Blackburn being the other – it makes the achievement even more incredible.
And most importantly the Stones earned a cool £450,000 from their cup run which is being earmarked to improve their Gallagher Stadium.
They were always going to have their work cut out against a Coventry side that went within a penalty shootout of the top flight at Wembley in May.
Maidstone had to face a £14m strike force in Haji Wright and Simms.
And they needed a brilliant early save from Covolan.
After a bit of ping pong inside the Kent side’s box, the ball fell to Palmer and his ferocious half volley was kept out by a diving save.
The Brazilian – the hero of Maidstone’s stunning win at Portman Road in the last round – could do little when Palmer thread a lovely pass to cut the Stones defence in half for Simms to run on and slot home.
Simms ran to the touchline before grabbing and holding up a No7 shirt in honour of Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, who was taken to hospital after sustaining a horrible injury on Friday against Preston and is out for the season.
And in the blink of an eye, it was 2-0.
Yet again Palmer slipped another gorgeous through ball into Simms, who this time on his leg peg shot past Covolan.
PASimms paid tribute to Tatsuhiro Sakamoto following his first goal[/caption]
GettyFabio Tavares rounded out the show with two late goals[/caption]
Reiss Greenidge almost scored the unluckiest but most spectacular own goal ever.
George Fowler hammered an attempted clearance into his team-mate’s forehead 30 yards from goal.
The ball looped back towards his own goal and just cleared the bar with Covolan struggling.
But Maidstone decided to go more attack-minded and Liam Sole fired a shot just over from 16 yards.
And it was game over when Palmer saw his 35-yard daisy cutter well saved by Covolan – only for the ball to fall to Simms to slot into the empty net.
Callum O’Hare replaced Wright after the break and forced Covolan into a fine early second-half save.
Lamar Reynold fired into the side-netting and Maidstone continued to push forward.
Covolan made a superb stop to keep out Palmer but he could do nothing when Fabio Tavares was put through by Godden.
And the youngster added a fifth by slotting home after Covolan palmed out Godden’s effort.
It’s back to the bread and butter of National League South with a Kent derby at Dover – but thank you Maidstone for showing us that the Magic of the FA Cup lives on.