Johnson 'tough cookies' warning as United draw league rivals in FA Cup

Torquay United fans are ready for back-to-back episodes of the ‘Maidstone United Show’ after the Gulls were drawn against the Kent club in this week’s FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round draw.
The two promotion-chasing teams are due to meet in the National League South this Saturday and again in the Cup seven days later, both at Plainmoor.
And it will mean a double-return to Plainmoor for Lucas Covolan, two-and-a-half years after the Brazilian goalkeeper headed a dramatic late equaliser in the National League Play-Off Final against Hartlepool United at Ashton Gate, Bristol.
After spells with Chesterfield and Port Vale, Covolan is now playing for Maidstone.
United manager Gary Johnson hardly needed to comment on the Cup pairing – he’d already warned that Maidstone will be ‘tough cookies’ after United’s 5-0 home win over Southern League Hungerford Town last Saturday.
Like most Gulls fans, Johnson was frustrated that his side had stormed into a 5-0 half-time lead against Hungerford with goals by Jack Stobbs, Aaron Jarvis (2pens), Brad Ash and Tom Lapslie – but then hadn’t managed even one more against outclassed opponents.
Johnson, who was 68 last Thursday, was quick to say : “We’re in the entertainment business, and I want the lads to entertain for 90 minutes. We didn’t look for the sixth and seventh goals enough. The first half was very good, but it was half a performance.”
Johnson also warned: “Maidstone will be a slightly higher level – they will be a tough cookie.”
The National League South has surprise early leaders in Taunton Town (22pts), who went top of the table – they’d been knocked out of the Cup by Merthyr Town – with a 2-1 home win over Eastbourne Borough last Saturday.
Torquay (19pts) and Maidstone (18), both trying to win promotion back to the National League after relegation last season, are sixth and seventh, with a game in hand.
Johnson and his staff will already be planning to counter the Stones’ biggest threat. Former Chesterfield, Blyth Spartans, Braintree Town and Brackley Town centre-forward Levi Amantchi, 22, is 6ft 4in tall and has already scored eight goals in eleven games this season.