Maidstone United 2 Gillingham 0 match report: Devonte Aransibia’s penalty and Sol Wanjau-Smith settle Kent Senior Cup second-round tie

Maidstone have knocked old rivals Gillingham out of the Kent Senior Cup for the third time in five years.

Devonte Aransibia’s penalty and a Sol Wanjau-Smith strike gave United a 2-0 victory over a young Gills side in front of almost 1,500 fans at the Gallagher Stadium.

Having met in the quarter-finals and semi-finals in 2018 and 2019 respectively, the clubs were paired in the second-round stage this season.

Maidstone - who’ve won the competition a record 18 times - rested a couple of their main men in goalkeeper Lucas Covolan and leading scorer Levi Amantchi but boss George Elokobi named a strong side.

Gillingham - whose last Kent Senior Cup success came in 1948 - had caretaker boss Keith Millen in the dugout but it was very much their B team, with just a handful of Football League appearances between them.

With the fans kept apart - Gillingham’s 500 travelling supporters were given the whole of the Genco Stand - the atmosphere was low-key early on, although it certainly livened up.

The match reflected that before picking up midway through the first half when Gillingham’s Matt Macarthur intercepted Wanjau-Smith’s pass and ran in on goal.

Gavin Hoyte blocked the initial effort and two more efforts were snuffed out before the danger was cleared.

That got the crowd going and the home fans were in full voice as United took a 25th-minute lead from the penalty spot.

Liam Sole was fouled by Harry Webster after cutting inside from a raking Sam Bone pass and Aransibia sent Taite Holtham the wrong way.

The Town End roof was literally shaking as Stones supporters enjoyed the moment.

Kai Garrett finished tamely when found in space by Macarthur before Maidstone doubled their lead in the 40th minute.

Razzaq Coleman De-Graft and Perri