Maidstone United 3-1 Billericay Town

(Flisher 39’, 54’, Murphy 56’: Sappleton 61’(p))

From the Gallagher Stadium

FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round

BILLERICAY Town’s FA Cup journey came to an end in Kent as National League giants Maidstone United beat them 3-1 to progress to the first round.

Town were looking to make it a first first-round appearance in nine years while Maidstone had progressed though the qualifying rounds in both of the last two years.

And it was unsurprising that the home side were the quicker out of the blocks on their 3G surface.

Former Concord Rangers man Ben Greenhalgh found space in a wide position but his shot fizzed narrowly off target and past the post of Jack Giddens.

Tom Murphy also threatened for the hosts as Town looked to weather the storm, with the strong away following of more than 300 supporters cheering them on in a crowd of almost 1,500.

Set-pieces looked like Town’s best way into the match, with several corners causing havoc in the penalty area although the ball was cleared.

With 30 minutes on the clock, Giddens remained untested although Billericay couldn’t hold out until half-time.

Six minutes before the break the deadlock was broken. Alex Flisher finished well past Giddens, who was called on just minutes later to stop the advantage being doubled before half-time with a smart stop.

Ricky Sappleton, once again deployed in defence, flicked a header inches past the post at the start of the second-half but Town were struggling to deal with the threat of Flisher and it was the forward that got the second goal of the afternoon 10 minutes after the break.

It came moments after Sam Cross shot off target but Flisher’s finish was unerring.

It was outdone by Tom Murphy’s goal minutes later, effectively ending the tie. The attacker scored a terrific overhead kick to make it 3-0.

Kreshnic Krasniqi came close before the visitors won a penalty following a foul by Kevin Lokko, and Sappleton made no mistake from 12 yards.

Krasniqi had another half chance but he couldn’t convert as Maidstone went on to book their first round place.

Billericay Town: Giddens, Diallo, Cross, Guarilovas, Sappleton, Stephenson, Monville, Hubble, Cundle (Capela), Krasniqi, Luke (Guthmy)