Co-owner Oliver Ash was in a state of disbelief after Maidstone’s shock FA Cup victory at Ipswich - even joking about winning the whole thing.

National League South United pulled off one of the greatest upsets of all time with their 2-1 fourth-round win against the Championship high-fliers on Saturday.

They beat a side 98 places above them to reach the last 16 of the competition where they will once again travel to Championship opposition in the form of Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry.

Belief has been the theme for manager George Elokobi during his side’s history-making run.

And Ash said: “Let’s rock on. I bet George thinks he can win the competition!

“George won’t fear anybody and now the Maidstone juggernaut rolls on. It’s extraordinary.”

Ash watched from the Portman Road directors’ box as goals from Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne, scoring for the third successive round, sent Maidstone through.

They came under heavy pressure but defended heroically, while keeper Lucas Covolan was named man-of-the-match.

“I simply can’t believe it,” said Ash, speaking minutes after the win.

“Obviously we rode our luck and on another day we lose that game 7-0 but you can’t fault the battling and the composure for two really terrific goals.

“Under that pressure, playing in a stadium probably fuller than most of them have ever seen, the players did brilliantly.

“It’s wonderful for all the fans who are here.

“I was talking to a lot of them before the game and everybody was excited come what may.

“Now to give them this I think most of them will probably be scratching their heads and pinching themselves and not be able to believe what we’ve achieved as a club.

“For the whole town, it’s sensational.

“Somebody, somewhere in the spiritual world must like us because we are riding our luck and for our team, little old Maidstone of National League South, to beat Ipswich away, it’s phenomenal.

“This is undoubtedly the best victory in the time Terry (Casey, co-owner) and I have been involved and possibly in the whole long history of the club.

“Lucas showed what an outstanding goalkeeper he is and they all just gave everything.

“The organisation of the defence, because we were defending for a lot of the game, was outstanding.

“It reduced the number of really dangerous chances, particularly in the second half.

“They had lots of shots but they were relatively comfortable shots.

“You do think about the grind of National League South, how it’s sometimes difficult, and they come out and perform like that under pressure on a day like today.

“Some teams would freeze out there and they didn’t freeze, they just played their hearts out.

“I’m delighted for everybody at the club. It’s like a dream.

“After 15 years of being involved, a day like this is the icing on the big Maidstone United cake.”

Maidstone earned another £120,000 in prize money, taking their total this season to just over £350,000.

They also received £110,000 in TV revenue and have their share of gate receipts to follow.

They’re likely to be on TV again in the next round while prize money increases to £225,000.

Ash hadn’t seriously considered the possibility of beating Ipswich for the money to come into the equation, with the cost of replacing the 3G pitch at the Gallagher well and truly covered.

And, in any case, the day was about glory and what it meant to the club’s 4,500 travelling fans.

“We thought about the prize money, of course, but it wasn’t going to happen, so anything to do with the business end is now a bonus,” said Ash.

“We didn’t expect this. The most extraordinary thing is we’re in the last 16 of the FA Cup.

“It’s just wonderful to see how much it means to the town.

“The whole project, from the beginning, was all about bringing this wonderful sporting club back to town.

“We know what the club means to people.

“All the scarves and the hats before the game and then the singing and chanting during the game, it’s wonderful.”