Report: An Away Win Maid To Measure

Maidenhead United recorded a third straight victory on the road and a clean sheet to boot at the Gallagher Stadium against Maidstone United thanks to Matt Robinson’s first half strike. 

 

The two sides started the game in contrasting league form – Maidenhead with four wins in a row, Maidstone winless in the same amount of games – but with both teams having suffered humbling defeats to Isthmian League opposition the previous week it was no surprise that there was a stuttering start to the match. The hosts had early shouts for a penalty kick when the impressive Riley Court went down in the area and the first save of the match didn’t come until 17 minutes when Jordi Van Stappershoef had to get down well to keep out a freekick form Court following a foul by captain Will De Havilland. 

 

A cross from Court just evaded a telling touch from Jephte Tanga at the far post and the Stones had the ball in the net after 28 minutes albeit Deon Moore was flagged offside after being played in by Court with Maidenhead careless in position in the build up. Maidenhead however did go ahead after 33 minutes from their first shot on target of the game. Ragguette’s throw deep in Maidstone territory was not cleared and from the edge of the box Matt Robinson was able to open his Maidenhead account with a well-placed shot into the roof of the net. The Magpies were now in the ascendancy and Remy Clerima and Manny Onariase both had headed opportunities over the crossbar from deliveries by Josh Popoola and Jayden Mitchell-Lawson respectively. 

 

 

The half time whistle brought some half-hearted boos from the frustrated home crowd. But they were almost on their feet within minutes of the second half. Moore managed to hold off De Havilland but he was denied by Van Stappershoef who was off his line in a flash to snuff out the chance. The second period however was if anything even shorter on quality attempts on goal. Lexus Beeden glanced a header just wide for the Kent side at a corner before Ryan Bartley’s pot-shot rebounded to safety off Popoola. Substitute Kai Yearn had an effort deflected behind and the busy Popoola tested Nathan Harness in the home goal with a shot from a tight angle. Maidenhead were careless in possession which allowed Stones substitute Kweku Lucan to hit a tame shot straight at Van Stappershoef during a lengthy period of injury time which Maidenhead otherwise saw out with discipline to move up one place in the National League South table. 

 

 

Magpies: Van Stappershoef, Bartley, Ragguette, De Havilland, Andrews, Mitchell-Lawson (sub Barratt ’80), Robinson, Dulson (sub Yearn 82’), Clerima, Popoola (sub Harriott 90’), Onariase. Subs not used: Collins, Cochrane, Dundas, Stewart. 

 

Stones: Harness, Sesay, Beeden, Fowler, Bramble, Tanga, Corne, Moore, Court, Oguntayo, Carvalho. Subs: Gilbert, Holden, Lucan, Agbontohoma, Papadopoulos, Kurtaran, Kargbo. 

 

Attendance: 1,939