Winchester City 0 Maidstone United 2 FA Cup match report: Levi Amantchi’s double settles Third Qualifying Round tie

Levi Amantchi scored twice for the second week running as Maidstone progressed in the FA Cup.

His goals came five minutes apart early in the second half and gave United victory over lower-league Winchester in the Third Qualifying Round.

Strike partner Sol Wanjau-Smith hit the bar with a Panenka-style penalty as Maidstone missed the chance to give themselves breathing space.

But it was a case of job done for the visitors after overcoming a poor first half to reach final qualifying.

Harry Kyprianou, who scored on this ground in the FA Cup last season for Weymouth, came in for his full debut.

He replaced the injured Bivesh Gurung in the only change from United’s 4-0 league win over Worthing last weekend.

The former Cyprus under-21 international slotted into the backline, with Sam Bone pushed into midfield.

A goalless first half in Hampshire was largely forgettable.

Winchester, who play a level below the Stones in Southern League Premier South, were well in a scrappy game.

If anything, they looked the more threatening at times, particularly when they worked the ball to the right wing.

Maidstone seemed to struggle with a difficult pitch, which was as bobbly and bumpy as they come, and found it difficult to find any sort of rhythm in the opening 45.

They did, though, have by far the best chance of the half with Amantchi laying the ball on a plate for the unmarked Lamar Reynolds, who fired over.

Wanjau-Smith headed narrowly wide from a Reynolds cross, after good work by Raphe Brown, but that was pretty much it for the Stones bar a couple of wayward efforts.

At the other end, Lucas Covolan had a few crosses to deal with and, shortly before the break, saved well from Simba Mlambo.

The game was crying out for a goal and Maidstone