Report: Angel Delight for Magpies in Last-Minute Winner

A last-minute winner from Matt Robinson took Maidenhead United into an arm’s length of the playoff positions in a 1-0 win over Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night. 

 

Ryan Peters made no changes to the starting XI, but there were new faces on the bench with two new loan signings onboard. Both Cameron Eubank from Birmingham City and Dillon De Silva of Sutton United joined on loan until the end of the season earlier in the afternoon. 

 

Josh Popoola got proceedings underway on a rainy night in northwest Kent, and the difficult conditions meant it was a slow start before the first opportunity for United. A short corner allowed Asher Yearwood to cross towards Manny Onariase, who headed wide with a quarter of an hour gone. 

 

Tonbridge responded with a dangerous cross of their own from the left, falling at the feet of Angels’ captain Jordon Thompson. A slightly scuffed shot was well held by Jordi van Stappershoef to keep the scores level. 

 

Tom Leahy was proving dangerous for the hosts, and he was the first to strike the post with half an hour play. A deflected effort reached as far as the winger, who shot from a tight angle into the upright before United cleared the danger. 

 

Magpies captain Will de Havilland left the field early, and Tonbridge sought to capitalise on the altered defence. Former Mag Ricky Korboa took advantage of a defensive error to take on van Stappershoef’s goal, but was unable to keep his strike on target. 

 

The descending fog did not do much to obscure visibility of United’s chances, the only others of note being an off-target ambitious effort from Yearwood and blocked shot from Matt Robinson as the half drew to a close. 

 

 

An otherwise lacklustre start to the second half was interrupted as Manny Onariase kept van Stappershoef’s clean sheet intact. A miscommunication at the back presented Frankie Baker with an open goal, but the outstretched leg of Onariase deflected the ball onto the post and out of danger. 

 

The uprights were struck for the third time in an evening, this time in front of the travelling faithful. Josh Umerah struck a beautiful free kick straight into the crossbar; any lower, and it was in off the crossbar. 

 

What had been a rather uneventful affair livened up in the closing stages with more opportunities in United's favour. Onariase was unfortunate not to convert Popoola's cross at the back post, while substitute Sam Barratt slammed a solid strike straight towards Laurie Shala. 

 

A goal felt imminent, and van Stappershoef pulled off a remarkable save to ensure it did not take place in front of the home support. A crucial diving save prevented Leahy from a last-minute winner six yards out, and United took the ball down the other end before being awarded a free kick on the left. Popoola took, and Robinson headed home to take the three points back to Berkshire. 

 

 

Tonbridge Angels: Shala, Williams, Warren (Janneh, 68’), Sutcliffe, Korboa, Baker (Pavey, 75'), Babajide, Leahy, McCann, Bakrin (Akehurst, 69'), Thompson © 

 

Magpies: van Stappershoef, Ragguette, de Havilland © (Welch-Hayes, 31’), Mantle, Yearwood (Eubank, 65’), Mitchell-Lawson (Barratt, 75'), Robinson, Umerah (De Silva, 73'), Dulson, Popoola, Onariase 

 

Attendance: TBC