«We are equal in dreams — underdogs and overachievers,» the revered British poet Lemn Sissay wrote in his ode to the FA Cup. «We are nothing without adventure believers.»
No competition across the planet's most popular sport fetishises the plucky courage of an underdog more than the FA Cup. Since its inception in 1871, when the first games were played before the corner kick had been introduced to the rulebook, there has been an enchanting sense of unpredictability.
The third round of this season's FA Cup proved no different, as Premier League and Championship clubs entered the competition and were swiftly dumped out of it.
Maidstone United were up against League One's Stevenage but any positive result for the Stones would have constituted a major upset. Chasing promotion from the sixth tier of English football, the semi-professional outfit took the lead at home to Stevenage on the cusp of half-time thanks to Sam Corne's penalty.
The midfielder who equalised against League Two Barrow in the previous round, spanked his spot kick past Stevenage's Taye Ashby-Hammond while he still had a cotton bud stuffed in his bleeding nostril.
And they’re ahead!!!<a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/maidstone?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#maidstone
<a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/FACup?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#FACup pic.twitter.com/9o4Oh886xwMaidstone United fans watching some <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/FACup?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#FACup
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