Magpies Hammer Hammers in Pre-Season Victory

It was a second pre-season victory for Alan Devonshire’s Maidenhead United who once again struck four past their opponents on Saturday, 19th July. 

 

It was an uneventful first quarter-hour with little chances to note for either side, albeit United were the more dominant of the two. 

 

After Sam Barratt was fouled, United worked the ball into the box, and a pass across goal was met by Ryan Bartley to tap home. 

 

The Magpies doubled their advantage just moments later in the 20th minute, when Harry Pritchard scored from a long-range volley – his first goal for Maidenhead United in seven years. 

 

Barratt almost made it three from three, as Pritchard and Trialist A worked the ball up the right flank, but the midfielder was unable to keep his strike below the crossbar. 

 

Barratt again found himself striking towards goal on the cusp of half-time. The Magpies’ attack culminated in Barratt striking towards the top of the goalmouth, forcing Hammers’ ‘keeper Finley Hooper into a quick save. 

 

Bartley would get his first-half brace with the last kick of the first 45. A Barratt free kick found the defender on the edge of the six-yard box, who nodded home as the half-time whistle blew. 

 

 

The heavens opened in the second half, which made for a somewhat quiet affair for the first 20 minutes or so. A flurry of substitutions entered the field, with Josh McMenemy, Jadyn Dundas and Corie Andrews earning minutes under their belt before Harvey Collins, Noah Stewart and two trialists joined the action for the last quarter of the game. 

 

Asher Yearwood became the latest signing to score his maiden goal in a Maidenhead shirt in the 68th minute. Some fancy footwork from Pritchard allowed him to square it to Yearwood, who slammed home unmarked for United’s fourth. 

 

West Ham would claw a couple back as the game entered its final ten minutes. A much more spirited performance from the visitors culminated in Sean Moore latching onto the ball with his left foot, and his effort from just outside the box fizzed past Collins in the 83rd minute. In the 90th, substitute Josh Ajala ramped home another past the Maidenhead ‘keeper with a tidy finish. 

 

 

Magpies: van Stappersheof (Collins, 68’), Bartley, Ragguette, Trialist A (Trialist B, 68’), Yearwood, Ferdinand (Dundas, 46’), Pritchard (Stewart, 68’), Umerah (Andrews, 46’), Cochrane, Barratt (Trialist C, 68’), Onariase (McMenemy, 46’)