Mags Succumb to Stags in Entertaining Encounter

Maidenhead United suffered a third consecutive defeat on the road in a 2-1 loss to AFC Totton on Tuesday night. 

 

Alan Devonshire made four changes to the side which lost against Dorking Wanderers, with Jordon Ragguette, Josh Umerah, Kai Yearn, and Manny Onariase starting. 

 

A lively start for both sides saw Ash Clarke have the first opportunity through a rare Onariase error. Through on goal with a man to his left, Clarke took aim and missed wide of van Stappershoef’s near post. 

 

Although United had an early penalty appeal waved away, the Stags were the more likely to open the scoring – something they would eventually do in the 24th minute. Before then, Declan Rose narrowly missed the target from a corner, while Clarke had a goal ruled out for offside after connecting with a blocked shot. 

 

Totton soon utilised one of their corners to maximum effect when Joe Oastler tapped home a rebound. van Stappershoef did well to prevent Tyler Cordner’s header, but Oastler was there to poke home a deserved lead. 

 

Totton almost had two before the half-hour mark, when Clarke’s cross to Scott Rendell saw the Stags’ skipper volley towards the top corner climb steadily over the bar. That said, the Magpies improved in their search for an equaliser, and were rewarded for their efforts when Jordon Ragguette was brought down in the penalty area. Umerah stepped up, and slammed home straight down the middle of the goal. 

 

While the Magpies’ faithful produced one of the most amusing renditions of Zombie by the Cranberries since Rory McIlroy helped Europe win the Ryder Cup five weeks prior, Totton stopper Matt Hall was kept busy by attempts on goal from Yearn, Ragguette and Umerah. Liam Dulson, however, came closest, as Hall was forced to parry his strike away. Unfortunately for United, there was no one on the end to poke home, and the two sides entered the break level. 

 

 

Remy Clerima replaced Onariase as the second half got underway, with United on the front foot. An appeal for a back pass from Dulson’s cross was waved away, as was a penalty appeal when Matt Robinson was brought down five minutes into the resumption of play. 

 

A Maidenhead side set for a long evening judging by the first quarter of the game was now continuing to test the Totton defence, albeit accuracy in the windy conditions proved to be problematic. Right-back Ryan Bartley flew over with an ambitious effort, while a clever free kick routine culminated in Popoola slamming his shot into the net – albeit the one behind the open terrace to keep the ball from venturing outside the Snows Stadium. 

 

Despite arguably being the better side for much of the second half, United conceded with a little over 20 minutes to go. Yearn sought to keep the ball in play on the touchline, but this allowed Christos Batzelis to recuperate possession. Substitute Malachi Linton charged towards goal following the through ball, with van Stappershoef blocking his effort. However, Christie Ward was first to the rebound, and he tapped home to restore the hosts’ lead. 

 

Dulson with a nice turn-and-shoot gave Hall something to think about as the game entered the last five minutes, although the Totton ‘keeper collected with both hands. A huge, wind-assisted kick up field then gave Hall a shot on target of his own, although van Stappershoef was able to collect. 

 

While it had been errors which led to the goals conceded, a lack of accuracy proved instrumental in the inability to score. Five added minutes were not enough for the Magpies, and an improved performance ultimately resulted in an all-too-familiar result. 

 

 

AFC Totton: Hall, Oastler, Haunstrup (Linton, 59’), Clarke (Hallett, 59’), Rendell, Lee, Rose (Bennett, 59’), Ward, Batzelis, Cordner 

 

Magpies: van Stappershoef, Bartley, Ragguette, de Havilland, Yearwood (Barratt, 69’), Robinson, Umerah, Dulson, Popoola, Yearn, Onariase (Clerima, 46’) 

 

Attendance: TBA