Frannie Collin was the hero on the night for the Isthmian Premier League outfit with his two goals, either side of Darius Charles’ effort for Stevenage, providing Maidstone with a memorable triumph.
Just 24 hours earlier Conference Premier side Aldershot had dumped Portsmouth out of The Cup, and Maidstone continued the giant-killings by knocking out a team 60 places and three divisions above them.
Maidstone United 2-1 Stevenage
The FA Cup First Round Replay
Thursday 20 November
Gallagher Stadium, Maidstone
On an historic night for Jay Saunders’ side, The FA Cup also enjoyed its own piece of history as the match at the Gallagher Stadium marked the first ever tie in The FA Cup Proper to be played on a 3G pitch.
And the surface clearly seemed to catch Stevenage off-guard as they were undone after just 68 seconds by a long ball pumped forward from the back.
Alex Flisher's flicked header found Jay May and his effort could only be palmed to the feet of Collin, who gladly tapped the ball home from four yards.
Maidstone United 2-1 Stevenage
After 90 minutes of goalless football in the first tie, the early strike rocked Stevenage and the visitors struggled to assert themselves on proceedings.
However they grew into the match and Lee Barnard almost levelled the scores in the 18th minute - the striker seeing his guided header tipped wide by Lee Worgan in the Maidstone goal.
Moments later the visitors went close again but another fine save from Worgan kept Stevenage at bay, with the goalkeeper this time diving low to his right in order to deny Roarie Deacon.
Frannie Collin celebrates with team-mate Alex Fisher
But Worgan was finally beaten just minutes into the second-half, Charles levelling the match with a neat volley after Charlie Lee’s cross from the right had picked him out.
Spurred on by the equaliser, Stevenage threw everything at their the Stones, who continued to hold firm. And, having weathered the storm, the home side regained the lead as Collin once again found the net just three minutes from time.
Maidstone's dressing room celebrations
Substitute Ben Greenhalgh expertly picked out Collin with his cross and the striker powered his header into the bottom left corner to send the home fans into ecstasy.
As a reward for overcoming Stevenage, Maidstone will travel to Wrexham in the next round on Saturday 6 December.
