Anything is possible in the FA Cup as Maidstone get ready to face Stevenage again - just ask Frannie Collin.

Striker Collin was the Stones’ two-goal hero the last time the sides met in the competition a decade ago this year.

‘Frannie Day’ is still celebrated every November on social media as United remember their 2-1 first-round replay triumph.

After a goalless draw at Broadhall Way, it was back to the Gallagher where League 2 Boro were heavy favourites to get the job done at the second attempt against Isthmian Premier Maidstone.

But Jay Saunders’ side upset the odds in front of the BT Sports cameras with Collin’s 87th-minute header from a Ben Greenhalgh cross sending them through to round two.

His first goal came in just the second minute after latching on to Jay May’s flick, with Boro levelling just after half-time.

The clubs meet again at the Gallagher on Saturday, this time in round three, with United out to emulate their 2014 triumph.

The tie was confirmed after Stevenage beat Port Vale on penalties in a second-round replay after battling back from 2-0 and 3-2 down.

“I was out with Flish (former Stones team-mate Alex Flisher) when the draw was made and obviously Stevenage and Port Vale had the replay,” said Collin, 36, now at Hythe.

“Port Vale were at home, so it was more likely to be them, but I just had a feeling they’d play Stevenage again and so it happened.

“To be fair, Stevenage at home, it’s a hell of an opportunity to get to the fourth round.

“They’d have liked one of the big boys, like anyone would, but if you’re not getting one of them, the next best thing is a winnable game at home which, realistically, is what they’ve got.

“Stevenage are going well in League 1 but Barrow were going well in League 2 and Maidstone beat them in the last round.

“Anything can happen in cup football.

“The players at Stevenage probably won’t know a great deal about what happened the last time they played each other but I dare say the fans and the media team will be letting them know.

“Maybe it will just plant that little seed of doubt in their minds.

“I must have had 30 or 40 messages about it, more so after Stevenage won the replay and it was all confirmed.”

The tie brings back happy memories for Collin, who had never reached the first round of the FA Cup before.

“The first goal was so early,” he recalled. “It was just over a minute into the game and it settled us down because the TV cameras were there, which was new, I think, to the entire team.

“One or two, max, had played in front of the cameras before.

“There was a bit of an onslaught after half-time, after they got their goal, and then we got a second wind.

“I didn’t realise the second goal was as late as it was, to be honest.

“It felt like there were still 10/15 minutes to play and as soon as I scored, Jay took me off and put an extra man in midfield.

“The last three or four minutes seemed to go on forever.

“It was a brilliant night and maybe a catalyst as we progressed through the leagues at the time and got into the Conference.

“It was the first time the club had gone that far in a very long time.

“Obviously they’ve repeated it since, and bettered it now, but it’s great memories.

“The club hadn’t long been back in the town - it was only their third year at the ground - and there was a real buzz around the place.

“Everything was new, the club was on the up, so it was nice for the fans, but this year they’ve gone one better, which is brilliant.

“For a club like Maidstone, a Conference South club, to be in the third round of the FA Cup, with a winnable game to go into the fourth round, it’s some achievement.”

Maidstone were knocked out by Wrexham in the second round but went on to win the Isthmian Premier title - the second in a run of three promotions in four seasons under Saunders.

“As a one-off moment, Stevenage was the best night of my career, beating a team that had just come down from League 1,” said Collin.

“Winning the league, as we did, and combining it with the cup run, it’s so hard for a part-time club to do both.

“Normally you get a bit of a hangover when you come out of the cup and you tail off a little bit in the league and it’s hard to get going again.

“But to do it all that season, to have the cup run and win the league, that was by far and away the best year of my career.

“I think it’s a bigger achievement to win the league but for me personally, as a one-off night, the cup has to rank highest.”