Ellis Simms put an end to Maidstone’s FA Cup fairytale with a first-half hat-trick that propelled Coventry into the quarter-finals.
Simms’ three goals and two late strikes from Fabio Tavares secured a 5-0 victory for the Sky Blues, marking their first quarter-final appearance since 2009.
Maidstone’s impressive Cup journey, which included wins over Barrow, Stevenage, and Ipswich, came to a disappointing end as Coventry dominated the match.
Coventry’s early lead and relentless attack left no room for Maidstone to stage a comeback, with Simms and Palmer leading the charge.
Despite Maidstone’s efforts, they were unable to match Coventry’s pace and were outplayed throughout the game.
Simms completed his hat-trick just before half-time, sealing Coventry’s victory and ending any hopes of a Maidstone comeback.
Coventry continued to dominate in the second half, with Tavares adding two more goals late in the game to secure the win.
