Former Ipswich Town captain Matt Holland describes Maidstone United’s victory over his old club as a great FA Cup story

Ipswich Town legend Matt Holland praised giantkillers Maidstone after their FA Cup heroics at Portman Road.

Holland captained the Tractor Boys to promotion to the Premier League in 2000, during a run of 223 consecutive appearances.

The former midfielder, who was working as a radio pundit, returned to his old club anticipating a comfortable home win.

What followed shocked everyone - the 28,000 crowd and millions of TV viewers - as Maidstone became the first sixth-tier side to reach the fifth round since Blyth Spartans in 1978.

Their 2-1 victory also means they are just the 11th non-league club in the past 98 years to reach the last 16 of the competition.

Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne scored the goals while man-of-the-match Lucas Covolan made save after save as National League South Maidstone beat their Championship hosts.

Report: Ipswich 1-2 Maidstone

Fan falls from stand while celebrating winner

How we beat Ipswich

“Congratulations to everybody from Maidstone United,” Holland told KentOnline.

“The players were magnificent, the supporters likewise.

“I expected Ipswich to win quite comfortably and they should have been 3-0 up inside 10 minutes.

“But there were some heroic performances from the Maidstone players, the goalkeeper made some excellent saves and there was a bit of fortune - you had to ride your luck at times.

“I thought Sam Corne in midfield ran his legs off, Lamar Reynolds up front got a goal and an assist, and took his goal superbly, and so did Sam Corne.

“It’s just a brilliant defensive effort from them and it’s a great FA Cup story.”

It was Maidstone’s seventh game in the competition this season and followed wins over League 2 Barrow and League 1 Stevenage in the previous two rounds.

Ipswich, 98