Maidstone United fans are in delirium after their side held out for a historic FA Cup fourth round win against Championship side Ipswich Town.

The National League South side – the lowest ranked left in the competition – have pulled off another upset after Lamar Reynolds made it 1-0 to the visitors against the Championship club in Suffolk, shortly before half-time.

Follow the game on our live blog here

Jeremy Sarmiento put the Tractor Boys level in the 56th minute, but 10 minutes laters Stones pulled it back with a strike from Sam Corne.

Stoic defending from the men in yellow and black saw the side riding their luck with shots raining down on the Stones goal, striking both posts and the crossbar and goalkeeper Lucas Covolan making a string of saves.

The Kent side had to hold out for eight minutes in second half added time with boss George Elokobi’s side throwing their bodies on the line for the team.

As fans arrived at Portman Road this morning, they were seen chanting and letting off flares at a pub close to the ground as the excitement built.

The team coach beeped at supporters as made its way to the stadium, and the club released a picture of the players gathered on the pitch with the caption “history-makers”.

Last Wednesday season ticket holders queued for more than two hours to get their hands on tickets to watch the match.

While hundreds more were left disappointed last Saturday when the remaining tickets quickly sold out.

The club beat Stevenage 1-0 on January 6 following a late first-half penalty scored by Sam Corne, which was the only goal of the match at the Gallagher Stadium.

It secured the Stones a place in the draw for the fourth round for the first time in their history.

Fans donning the black and amber are optimistic about the game’s result with some hoping for a narrow win.

One man said: “I reckon 2-0 to Maidstone.

“I mean we’re pretty good at the moment so we will win.”

Another fan, decked out with a club scarf, agreed.

For where to watch Maidstone v Ipswich, click here.

She said: “I think we’ll win it because we’ve got nothing to lose and we’ll go all out.

“The boys are brilliant, the managers brilliant, we’ll just go all out to win.”

Gina Riley, captain of the Maidstone United’s women’s team, is also in high spirits about the game.

She said: “Everyone is so excited, obviously getting into the third round itself was amazing, and now to get even further is just a bonus.

“I reckon it’s going to be a tough game, definitely.

“But I think we’ll get the support up there from lots of travelling fans. I reckon a nice 2-1 win.”

Maidstone United defender George Fowler is also hoping to cause a major FA Cup upset on his return to Ipswich Town.

The ex-Debenham High School pupil, who once played for the Tractor Boys’ academy, says the team are heading into the Emirates FA Cup clash with “optimism” they can “catch” his former side “off guard”.

“We’re fully aware that we’re coming up against a much stronger opposition than we’ve played so far, a team in the Championship who are trying to get back into the Premier League,” he said.

“We’re aware of the quality that we’re coming up against but at the same time, they’ll be aware that we’ve played a League 2 team in Barrow, and beat them, and a League 1 team in Stevenage and beaten them.

“So we’re going with some optimism that we can catch them off guard and not even necessarily get a draw and bring them back here, which would be another great occasion, but you never know we might even be able to get the win.

“We’re not going out there to hold out and see how we get on as there’s obviously hope that we can get a result.”

Manager George Elokobi hopes to give supporters a day they will never forget.

He said: “The community has come out in force again. They all deserve it and it’s a fantastic occasion for the football club, for everyone connected to us - the players, their families, the owners.

“The kids, the young Maidstone fans, they are the next generation and it’s going to be a day for them to remember and I’m sure even the grown-ups want to remember this day for the rest of their lives.”

Meanwhile, singer and former X Factor winner James Arthur, who has previously played in charity matches at the Gallagher Stadium, has sent a message of support to the Stones.

He said: “I’m backing you on Saturday against Ipswich, mainly because we want to stick it to [Ipswich fan] Ed Sheeran. He’s had too much success in his career and I want to bring him down a peg or two. Good luck.”

Meanwhile, lightweight boxer and Maidstone fan Sam Noakes has spoken of his disappointment at missing the match.

The rising star’s brother has booked a coach up to Portman Road, but Sam has had to bow out, due to a suit fitting ahead of his pal’s wedding, at which he’ll be best man.

He said he’d been looking to duck out and catch the game in a pub instead.

And as thousands of Stones fans prepare to make the 88-mile trip to Ipswich, hundreds of Vietnamese supporters will be watching from 6,300 miles away.

Aspiring doctor Nyguen Thien Nhan set up the Maidstone United Supporters’ Club out there last February having followed the club since its 2021/22 championship season and has amassed quite a fanbase, all of whom have fallen in love with the National League South side.