Lamar Reynolds says Maidstone’s FA Cup run is the cherry on the cake following his summer transfer. Reynolds knew he was joining an ambitious club after swapping part-time football at Braintree for life at the Gallagher Stadium.
But the winger never dreamed he’d be part of a team playing in the FA Cup fourth round. George Elokobi’s men travel to Championship high-fliers Ipswich next weekend having already beaten two Football League clubs in Barrow and Stevenage. “It’s been a nice step up for me,” said Reynolds, 28. “I’d been playing part-time for a few seasons and coming in here, to this environment, it’s great. “You get a big atmosphere and the FA Cup run has been the cherry on the cake. “You don’t join a non-league club and expect to be in the fourth round of the FA Cup but now it’s given us a push to know what we can achieve. “It’s opened a few eyes and made the boys understand that they’re capable of achieving the unexpected or the unthinkable.
It’s the magic of the FA Cup, like the gaffer says.” Reynolds has a good chance of facing Ipswich, too, especially with Matt Rush and Timmy Abraham cup-tied.
Indeed, he started the third-round win over Stevenage on the left of a front three, having come on against Barrow. “I’ve got a chance,” said Reynolds. “Whatever team the gaffer puts out, we’re all capable of doing a good job out there and we all work really hard.” Reynolds first met Elokobi when he went on loan to Leyton Orient from Newport in 2018.