"We had way more chances": Van Stappershoef reflects on FA Cup frustration

Goalkeeper Jordi Van Stappershoef was one of the few Maidenhead United players to come out of Saturday’s FA Cup second qualifying round defeat to Faversham Town with some credit to their name – however, United’s surprise exit from the competition wasn’t for a want of trying.

On an afternoon where the Magpies did virtually everything but score, they must be pondering how their step 4 visitors managed to advance to the next round after a 1-0 victory.

United saw plenty of opportunities come their way, both before and after the visitors had taken an undeserved half-time lead through Tashi-Jay Kwaiye. But a combination of wasteful finishing and alert goalkeeping from Jordi’s opposite number Roshan Greensall, meant they drew a blank on home soil.

From his position on the field, it was hard to see how close they came to scoring on occasion, but the Dutch stopper said afterwards it was clear the Magpies had ‘way more chances’ than Faversham.

The Isthmian League South East side improved quite a bit in the second half and forced Van Stappershoef into several excellent saves. But this was a big, missed opportunity for the Magpies to advance in a competition that means so much to so many people - including Van Stappershoef.

Two seasons ago, he was part of the Aldershot Town squad that reached the third round of the competition, exiting away to West Bromwich Albion in the third round having overcome Stockport County and Swindon Town to make it that far.

“We’re still in the emotion of all this,” he said after the final whistle.

“The FA Cup is really important to me, two seasons ago I was with Aldershot Town in the third round,” he said.

“I know how it feels to go through and it’s special. I’m still really upset, but we have to accept it, deal with it because next week the league starts again.

“We’re on a great run, four wins in a row and now we have to focus on trying to win at Maidstone.”

United will look to bounce back in the league at Maidstone, and head into that game off the back of four straight league victories.

But this was an unexpected setback for them after a positive spell of performances and results.

On how a frustrating afternoon played out from his perspective, Van Stappershoef said: “It was annoying to concede like that. We weren’t sharp enough. We had enough chances to kill the game, but we didn’t do that. And if you don’t do that, you’re never going to win the game.

“Their goalie (Greeensall) made some great saves, but we’ve had so many chances to win the game. For me it’s hard to see because I’m so far away, and it’s hard to see how close we came.

“We had some shots that looked close to going over the line (goal line), but the linesman was there and must have seen.

“There were some good saves from the keeper though.”

He added: “The second half they were winning more duels than us in the air. Normally we’re very strong with the duels and today we were a bit off it. At the end, it’s up to me to make the saves, but we had way more chances than them today.”

Maidstone were very much in title contention last season but have made an uncertain start to this season’s campaign, picking up only two wins from their first eight league matches. Like Maidenhead, they’re also out of the FA Cup after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat away to Folkstone Invicta.