Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna paid full credit to Maidstone following the National League South side’s shock FA Cup Fourth Round win on Saturday.
Goals from Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne either side of Jeremy Sarmiento’s equaliser led the Stones to a famous 2-1 victory at a club that won the FA Cup in 1978. “First of all, it’s full credit to Maidstone, it’s a fantastic day for them, they worked ever so hard for it,” said McKenna. “Of course, they rode their luck as well, but they were very, very clinical and they showed a fantastic spirit to get the result. “It’s a bad day for us and it’s a lot of disappointment and we’re going to have to live with that and produce a response next week. “I thought we started ever so well, I can’t really fault the attitude.
We prepared the game well, we started terrifically and that’s irrespective of the level of the opponent. “I thought it was a really good start to the game, we had big chances, we hit the woodwork a couple of times, the keeper produced some fantastic saves and the longer the game goes on like that, our belief drops a little bit. “They defended with more resolution and at that stage they’re hoping for a moment and they got it. “We had an injury on the edge of the box that we should have communicated better on the pitch.
They broke away and got the goal that really put the tie to life for them. “I think we’ve had 38 shots on goal, the opposition have had two, we need to be, of course, much more clinical than we were.