FA CUP MATCH PREVIEW: MAIDSTONE UTD VS BOREHAM WOOD

F A Cup 3rd Qualifying Round.

Maidstone United v Boreham Wood

Match Preview by John Mead.

 Recently rehoused United provide an interesting challenge for Wood in this Saturday’s F A Cup 3rd Qualifying Round. The Kent side are top of the Ryman Premier Division after Tuesdays away victory at Canvey Island. They have lost just one of their thirteen league matches and are unbeaten at home.

Home is the Gallagher Stadium, a 2228 capacity venue that will almost certainly be sold out this Saturday as F A Cup fever takes a hold. The Stones attract over 2000 fans on a regular basis to watch their side play on a synthetic 3G surface. Bizarrely should Maidstone reach the F A Cup 1st Round they will be prohibited from playing home matches on the surface in the competition. Should they go on and win the F A Cup they could then resume home matches in the Europa League!

Similarly the Football Conference have pointed out that Maidstone will not be able to play at our current level on a synthetic surface, which given their current position is likely to be a huge issue sooner rather than later.

Just three places separate the two sides at present, making us the underdogs given our nine league goals against The Stones thirty one so far this season! Wood fans will be aware of The Stones keeper Lee Worgan and leading marksman Frannie Collin from their days at Tonbridge Angels. Collin has three F A Cup goals to his name to add to his ten League goals.

We have met each other in various competitions at different venues since the Kent side reformed back in 1992. In the 2002-2003 United returned to the F A Cup for the first time and made it as far as the 2nd Qualifying Round where they were drawn against us.

937 fans turned up at Sittingbourne FC on a blustery Sunday afternoon and we ran out 2-5 winners.

It was another five years before the two sides met again when we both played in the Ryman Premier Division . Our last meeting was back in January 2010 when we travelled to Ashford FC and won 0-1. It proved to be dark days for Maidstone, with their then Chairman Paul Bowden-Brown resigning shortly afterwards, the side were then relegated and their hosts Ashford went out of business!

However things could not be more different today and we expect an extremely tough challenge in front of a raucous and large following on a 3G surface. One thing is for sure it will certainly be a day to remember!

F A Cup 3rd Qualifying Round. Maidstone United v Boreham Wood. Saturday October 12th kick off 3pm.

The Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone. ME14 1LQ.