Maidstone forward Sol Wanjau-Smith was in tears after fearing his FA Cup dream was over.

Wanjau-Smith aggravated an ankle injury in training on Friday and had to pull out of the session.

He thought that was it for his chances of facing Stevenage the following day.

But with United short on strikers - Matt Rush and Timmy Abraham both cup-tied - he took a chance and lasted almost 80 minutes of their 1-0 third-round victory.

“I don’t think words can describe how I feel,” said Wanjau-Smith, after Maidstone booked their place in round four.

“I had a bit of a scare - I had to pull out of training.

“There were a few tears.

“Even before the game, I said to the gaffer I’m not sure and he just said give me half an hour, give me everything you’ve got.

“As soon as you hear the crowd like that, packed out, screaming your name, you forget about it.

“Second half, I was really struggling but I just tried to give it as much as I could. It’s not sad tears now, it’s happy tears.

“It’s the biggest game in my career, that’s why I was so tearful when I pulled out of training.

“I really thought I wasn’t playing. I just couldn’t move.

“I thought it was done but because Rushy and Timmy couldn’t play, there’s no one else that could naturally play up front so the gaffer just said give it all you’ve got and thankfully I managed to put in a good little shift.”

Wanjau-Smith kicked off Maidstone’s FA Cup campaign with a hat-trick in a 4-1 second qualifying round win at Steyning back in September.

They’ve won six matches to reach the fourth round proper, also seeing off Winchester, Torquay, Chesham and Barrow before beating League 1 promotion hopefuls Stevenage.

For Wanjau-Smith, a place in the last 32 is an extraordinary achievement given his background in the competition.

“I’ve played for teams that don’t even get in the FA Cup and I’ve played in the extra preliminary round,” he said.

“Craig Fagan (Maidstone assistant) didn’t even know it existed, the preliminary round, let alone the extra preliminary round, so it’s absolutely massive to get this far.

“I think the first round proper was the biggest game of my career so to be in the fourth round, it’s crazy.”