Ipswich Town legend Matt Holland praised giantkillers Maidstone after their FA Cup heroics at Portman Road.

Holland captained the Tractor Boys to promotion to the Premier League in 2000, during a run of 223 consecutive appearances.

The former midfielder, who was working as a radio pundit, returned to his old club anticipating a comfortable home win.

What followed shocked everyone - the 28,000 crowd and millions of TV viewers - as Maidstone became the first sixth-tier side to reach the fifth round since Blyth Spartans in 1978.

Their 2-1 victory also means they are just the 11th non-league club in the past 98 years to reach the last 16 of the competition.

Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne scored the goals while man-of-the-match Lucas Covolan made save after save as National League South Maidstone beat their Championship hosts.

Report: Ipswich 1-2 Maidstone

Fan falls from stand while celebrating winner

How we beat Ipswich

“Congratulations to everybody from Maidstone United,” Holland told KentOnline.

“The players were magnificent, the supporters likewise.

“I expected Ipswich to win quite comfortably and they should have been 3-0 up inside 10 minutes.

“But there were some heroic performances from the Maidstone players, the goalkeeper made some excellent saves and there was a bit of fortune - you had to ride your luck at times.

“I thought Sam Corne in midfield ran his legs off, Lamar Reynolds up front got a goal and an assist, and took his goal superbly, and so did Sam Corne.

“It’s just a brilliant defensive effort from them and it’s a great FA Cup story.”

It was Maidstone’s seventh game in the competition this season and followed wins over League 2 Barrow and League 1 Stevenage in the previous two rounds.

Ipswich, 98 places above George Elokobi’s men, should have been a step too far, but the visitors had other ideas.

“I bet you’re all in shock,” said Holland.

“You’ve beaten League 2 opposition, you’ve beaten League 1 opposition and now you’ve beaten a Championship side. It’s a fairytale run that you’re on.

“These stories do happen occasionally.

“It’s like lightning, it doesn’t strike too often but it does happen and today was one of those days where things went Maidstone’s way.

“They had the rub of the green, Ipswich hit the woodwork three times and missed some good opportunities, and then Maidstone took their chances brilliantly when they came.

“For Maidstone to win, the goalkeeper had to play well, you had to have a bit of luck, you had to take your chances - and all of those things happened.

“It all added up to an FA Cup upset and a brilliant FA Cup story.”

It was a rare bad day for Ipswich who are pushing for back-to-back promotions to the Premier League under Kieran McKenna.

They’re second in the Championship and in a four-way scrap with Leicester, Southampton and Leeds for the two automatic promotion spots.

“To be honest, there haven’t been too many bumps in the road under Kieran McKenna,” said Holland.

“It’s been a fabulous ride and he’s done a brilliant job.

“They’re in a great position in the Championship to try and get back in the Premier League and that’ll be the aim now.

“He made 10 changes today but he’s still got a really strong squad and there’s enough quality there to have won the game.

“I thought Jeremy Sarmiento and Omari Hutchinson were a real handful and Maidstone struggled to deal with them at times but wow.

“I’m still in shock at what’s happened but congratulations to everyone associated with Maidstone. It’s been a fabulous effort.”