Herne Bay 0 Maidstone United 1 match report: Bay knocked out of FA Cup at third qualifying round as home defender Skye Salmon’s first-half goal proves key as George Elokobi’s troops progress

An own goal from Herne Bay defender Skye Salmon proved key as Maidstone edged out their lower-division hosts in the FA Cup third qualifying round on Saturday.

The young ex-Margate man put past his own keeper, having been involved in a mix-up at the end of the first half.

That goal was enough to get National League South Stones through to the final qualifying round of the competition as they won 1-0 despite coming under real late pressure during a hard-fought tie against the Isthmian South East team.

George Elokobi’s troops had started well and created the first opportunity as Shaq Coulthrist headed wide a right-wing cross by Charlie Seaman in the fifth minute at Winch’s Field in front of a massive crowd of 1,997.

The Stones continued to dominate proceedings on a gloriously sunny September afternoon but Bay put plenty of bodies on the line to keep them out.

Midway through the first period, player-coach Liam Friend came to the hosts’ rescue.

He blocked to thwart Coulthrist after Stones skipper Sam Corne found space in Herne Bay’s penalty area, Scott Heard having missed a header in the right-back position.

Corne himself went close on 27 minutes when he beat home right-back Jack Parter to reach the end of a right-wing delivery by Jon Benton, only to flick narrowly wide of Harry Brooks’ right-hand post.

Maidstone twice went close, 10 minutes later, after a brief spell of Bay pressure.

Temi Eweka, who was up from the back, headed Brookes’ left-wing delivery against the post before Corne nodded straight at Brooks when he should have done better as Benton crossed from the other side.

But four minutes before half-time, Maidstone went ahead in incredibly fortunate fashion from their perspective.

Brooks was left in no man’s land as