Maidstone United 2 Barrow 1 FA Cup match report: Bivesh Gurung fires Stones into third round after substitution reprieve

An incredible twist of fate saw Bivesh Gurung fire hometown club Maidstone into the third round of the FA Cup - nine minutes after his substitution had been announced.

Gurung was making way for Lamar Reynolds but received a reprieve when team-mate Sol Wanjau-Smith pulled up injured and went off instead.

Amazingly, he fired home a brilliant winner from outside the box as Maidstone came from a goal down to upset League 2 Barrow and reach the promised land of round three for the first time in 35 years.

Benjamin Whitfield had given the Bluebirds a first-half lead, with Sam Corne squaring the tie.

Maidstone top scorer Levi Amantchi was stretchered off before half-time but United found another hero in Gurung, who eventually went off in added time.

Captain Gavin Hoyte made his first start after injury while Liam Sole also came into the side, with Devonte Aransibia and cup-tied Matt Rush making way.

There was a good tempo to the game in front of a lively Gallagher crowd as Maidstone set about reaching the third round for the first time since 1988.

Barrow’s big back three, including former Aston Villa man James Chester, weren’t going to give much away.

But after Lucas Covolan got down well to deny Whitfield, the Stones went close to the opening goal with Paul Farman making an excellent save low to his left after Wanjau-Smith met Corne’s free-kick from the right.

Maidstone, having looked well-organised, let their guard slip as Barrow took a 25th-minute lead.

There was a breakdown in communication at the back between Covolan and defender George Fowler after Emile Acquah nodded on Farman’s deep free-kick, gifting Whitfield a simple finish.

Stones boss George Elokobi urged his side to get up the pitch and they had a good spell