Ellis Simms ended Maidstone’s FA Cup fairytale as his first-half hat-trick helped fire Coventry City into the quarter-finals. The striker’s treble and Fabio Tavares’ late double sent the Sky Blues into the last eight for the first time since 2009 after a 5-0 win.
It was a disappointing climax to the Stones’ historic Cup run, which had seen them win seven ties - including knocking out Barrow, Stevenage and Ipswich - to become the first team outside the top five divisions to reach the fifth round since Blyth Spartans in 1978.
George Elokobi’s National League South side became heroes following their fourth-round win at Portman Road but there was never any danger of a repeat at Coventry. The Sky Blues were determined to avoid suffering the same fate as their Championship rivals, with Mark Robins’ men rampant, and Maidstone outclassed and outgunned.
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