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Maidstone United can now concentrate on the League and the Kent Senior Cup after their interest in the League Cup was ended by the current holders Tilbury.
Unsurprisingly, The Stones fielded a much changed line up after Saturday’s trip to Sailsbury but United did have enough possession and created sufficient chances to have at least taken this tie into extra time.
It took Maidstone some time to get into their stride and on 14 minutes Nathan Gordon found Bradley Barnes who cut inside and curled the ball goalwards only for Adam Harris to make a good save and turn the ball wide.
Seven minutes later, Harris once again kept the scores level with another fine stop as this time he tipped an attempt from John Green over the bar.
However, despite his best efforts Harris was powerless to prevent Tilbury opening the scoring on 32 minutes when Manlee Brown unleashed a fierce drive from 30 yards and although Harris got a hand to the ball he could only help it on its way as it flew into the net.
Four minutes later, the visitors had a chance to extend their lead when Joel Barnett raced into the box but he was put off by the presence of Ashley Ulph and he shot wide from a good position.
As the game moved towards the interval The Stones began to dominate and on 39 minutes Lyndon Rowland had a gentle shot comfortably saved before a header from Danny Hockton dribbled wide after he had connected with a cross from Dean Hernandez-Bradshaw.
Ulph then had a low drive stopped by Andy Hall in the Tilbury goal before the home side extended their lead against the run of play on half time when Peter Hawkins got the ball stuck under his feet and Barnett gratefully stole possession and comfortably fired the ball past the stranded Harris.
Two minutes after the break Gordon surged clear in the box and from a tight angle saw his shot strike the bar but following this Maidstone had the upper hand for the rest of the game.
On 64 minutes another good cross from Hernandez-Bradshaw found Rowland but he headed wide and then seconds later Rowland played the ball to Hockton who was in an excellent central position in the box but he shot straight at the keeper.
With just over twenty minutes from time Ulph battled well to win possession before striking a rising drive which cleared the bar and then Hernandez-Bradshaw once again crossed for Rowland and this time the ball ended up in the side netting.
The Stones kept up the pressure and with 83 minutes played substitute Nathan Paul picked out Keelan Mooney at the back post and his pull back was scrambled away by Hall and then Hockton curled a free-kick wide before seeing another shot saved by the Tilbury keeper.
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