Report: 2-2 Against Tudors

It was a second draw in succession for Maidenhead United after the Magpies were unable to capitalise on two well-worked goals in the first half in a 2-2 draw at York Road against Hemel Hempstead. 

 

Alan Devonshire made one change to the side which travelled to Enfield, with Josh Popoola replacing Sam Barratt – the latter having been injured 25 minutes into Saturday’s game. 

 

The Magpies were unable to score in the 90 or so minutes against Enfield, but it took them a tenth of that time to find the net on Tuesday evening. Matt Robinson played it to Josh Popoola on the right flank, with the winger easily squaring it to Liam Dulson to tap home his first competitive goal in a black and white shirt. 

 

United’s lead didn’t last long, however, with Hemel Hempstead taking only three minutes to equalise. This time, Dulson failed to connect with a headed clearance from a Tudors’ free kick, which permitted Joe White to poke home from a yard out. 

 

An end-to-end encounter continued throughout the first half-hour. Jordon Ragguette’s set piece sought to replicate that of Hemel’s, although it failed to clear the first man. Hemel responded with a threatening counterattack, and Manny Onariase did well to prevent the danger. 

 

United, nevertheless, were playing tidy football, and their patience was rewarded towards the second half. Robinson once again set up the play, this time with a beautiful overhead pass. Dulson collected, passing down the wing to Popoola. Asher Yearwood collected, passing to Ferdinand who looped it back over his teammate, and the resulting cross found Umerah who hammered home. 

 

The Magpies looked to enter the dressing room ahead at the break. However, just moments before the whistle, the Tudors won a penalty as Popoola was accused of bringing his man down in the box. White stepped up, and the swaying arms of Jordi van Stappershoef failed to put the striker off as he struck the ball into the bottom left. 

 

 

The second half began with a great chance for Hemel’s Samuel Adenola. The right-back found himself in prime position to score following an early corner, but his shot from 12 yards out went well over the bar. 

 

United responded by piling on the pressure, and earned several set pieces for their tenacity. The first, from a crossing position, amounted to nothing, but the second, just past the hour mark, saw Yearwood force Michael Johnson into an excellent fingertipped save. 

 

Dulson also threatened Johnson moments later. Collecting the ball in the final third, Dulson fired towards goal and forced another save from the Hemel ‘keeper. Cochrane, likewise, also tested Johnson following a darting run in the 76th minute, before Dulson struck straight towards the goalkeeper in the 84th minute. 

 

As the fourth official indicated six minutes of added time, a United corner was whipped in, landing to Robinson on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was dragged just wide. 

 

Despite being on the back foot for much of the second half, Hemel fought valiantly in the closing stages to pile late pressure on the United goal. Mathew Achuba’s shot was deflected wide, and the resulting clearance saw Hamza Semakula force van Stappershoef into an important save. 

 

 

Magpies: van Stappershoef, Bartley, Ragguette (Cochrane, 46’), de Havilland (Clerima, 90’), Yearwood (Andrews, 82’), Ferdinand, Robinson, Umerah, Dulson, Popoola (Mitchell-Lawson, 67’), Onariase 

 

Hemel: Johnson, Adenola, Ajayi, Williams (Vihete, 69’), Gray (Achuba, 67’), Matthews-Lewis (Azeez, 77’), White, Wiltshire (Semakula, 67’), Bateson, Anderson (Noel-Williams, 77’) 

 

Attendance: 957