Magpies Crash Out of Trophy in Defeat at Leamington

Maidenhead United crashed out of the Isuzu FA Trophy in a 2-0 defeat to National League North outfit Leamington. 

 

Alan Devonshire made two changes to the starting XI. Ryan Bartley replaced Remy Clerima in the back four, while Asher Yearwood filled in for Josh Popoola. 

 

The game kicked off three minutes late, and five minutes later United had their first chance thanks to a Kai Yearn interception. The Coventry-loanee offlaid the ball to Josh Umerah who missed the target from the edge of the box. 

 

Leamington were quick to respond, threatening Jordi van Stappershoef’s goal with an early corner. They soon took the lead, however, as Ewan Williams tapped home from close range. Dan Meredith charged down the touchline, crossing to Tim Berridge who in turn found the Brakes’ striker to gain the lead. 

 

Yearn was involved in the next period of attacking play for the Magpies, taking a quick header from Sam Barratt’s powered cross. A well-timed header narrowly flew over the bar and into the trees behind. 

 

Down the other end, the Brakes continued to apply pressure. Ant Lynn won the ball back in the final third, and sought Berridge via Seb Thompson. The home crowd, and stadium Tannoy announcer, thought it was in, but the striker was unable to find the target. 

 

The Magpies entered the final ten minutes of the half with comparatively more oomph than the 35 preceding it. Yearn, by far the Magpies’ biggest attacking threat up to that point, found space and passed to Umerah. His touch was goal-bound, but lacked the power to clear Rogan Ravenhill. 

 

Undeniably, the Brakes should have added to their tally before the half was out. A defensive error from the Magpies left Berridge in a one-on-one, but his shot was lacklustre and easily caught by van Stappershoef. Four minutes later, Williams equally should have scored from a dangerous position, but pulled his shot wide. 

 

 

The teams emerged from the tunnel, and Umerah immediately tested Ravenhill with a powered shot on target. The Brakes’ ‘keeper was unable to keep hold of the ball, but Yearn couldn’t keep the rebound on target. Dulson also forced Ravenhill into a stop five minutes later, but his near-post shot was parried away. 

 

Leamington extinguished any hopes of a United equaliser just before the hour mark. Berridge, deserving of a goal, scored the second from close range. Thompson and Williams played a nice one-two, before the former squared across the face of goal to find Berridge for the easy tap-in. 

 

From there on in, it felt like a case of waiting for the final 30 minutes to elapse on a cold afternoon in Warwickshire. Substitute Corie Andrews perhaps should have done better when a great chance was blocked by Ravenhill’s feet, while Dulson forced the shot-stopper to tip over the bar after cutting in from the edge of the pitch. 

 

 

Leamington: Ravenhill, Meredith, Quaynor, Evans, Walker ©, Williams, Berridge (Pais, 78’), Thompson, Lynn (Clarke, 86’), Mitchell, Crowther 

 

Magpies: van Stappershoef, Bartley, Ragguette, de Havilland, Welch-Hayes, Yearwood (Popoola, 62’), Robinson, Umerah, Dulson, Barratt (Andrews, 63’), Yearn 

 

Attendance: 412