Report: Magpies 2-2 Oldham Athletic

Maidenhead United played out a tough 2-2 draw against Oldham Athletic under the floodlights. United went two goals up thanks to James Golding and a Manny Mothe own goal. However, the visitors clawed back twice through Monthe and Charlie Raglan as the points were shared. 

 

The visitors got us underway, and it was the Latics who had the first opening of the game. Mike Fondop got a shot off on the swivel – but it flew harmlessly over the bar. 

 

With just under a quarter of an hour gone, United took the lead through James Golding and what a beautiful goal it was. Our number 26 fainted to shoot on the edge of the area, completely fooling his man, before bending a looping shot into the far side netting. 

 

Just four minutes later, Oldham nearly drew level as Tom Conlon’s low cross landed at the feet of Fondop, but the forward failed to hit the target. 

 

United had a great chance to double their lead on the break as Sam Barratt cleared an Oldham cross and then chased down his own clearance and charged over the halfway line. Barratt delivered a cross onto the foot of Shawn McCoulsky, but he couldn’t keep his shot down. 

 

Just seconds later, United did have it in the net courtesy of the McCoulsky but the linesman’s flag cut short any celebrations. 

 

An end-to-end half with chances aplenty got even better for United as their lead was doubled in the 37th minute. Some positive play from Smith created a shooting opportunity from a narrow angle. He blasted his shot off the post, but the rebound bounced off Manny Monthe and into the back of the net. 

 

Just before the interval, the Latics pulled one back and it was Monthe putting it in the right net this time. He latched onto a hooked ball back into the area, taking one touch to control before smashing past Craig Ross. 

 

 

The second half started just like the first with a Mike Fondop chance on goal. The striker latched onto a cross from Jake Caprice, this time his shot was deflected over by some brilliant defending from Kevin Lokko. 

 

The visitors had burst out the blocks in the second half and nearly equalised, but Kane Drummond failed to take advantage of a glorious opportunity. Some incisive play found Drummond at the back post all alone, but, somehow, he managed to strike the post when it seemed easier to score. 

 

It was all Oldham up until the hour mark. A scramble in the area led to the ball landing at the feet of Mark Kitching on the edge of the area. Kitching looked to bend his effort into the top corner. With Craig Ross stranded, the crossbar came to his and United’s rescue. 

 

Maidenhead’s first chance of the half came soon after the 70th minute. Casey Pettit met Nathan Ferguson’s fierce free kick but, slightly off-balance, the former couldn’t turn his shot goalwards. 

 

With ten minutes to go, Oldham Athletic did draw level through Charlie Raglan. A deep corner found the centre-half at the back post, leaving him with the easy task of heading home. 

 

United’s chances were sparse in the second half, but with two minutes to go they went close. A long ball from Ross was perfect for Smith to run onto. Driving to the byline, Smith delivered a cross across the six-yard box but no one could quite get a touch. 

 

In the depths of added time, United nearly won it as McCoulsky headed over a dinked Smith cross, the linesman’s flag was up so the goal wouldn’t have counted either way. 

 

 

United travel to Somerset and Huish Park Stadium this weekend to face Yeovil Town looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine. 

 

Maidenhead United: Craig Ross ©, Will de Havilland, Kevin Lokko, Nathan Ferguson, Shawn McCoulsky, Casey Pettit, Reece Smith, Owen Cochrane (Latty-Fairweather, 86’), Miles Welch-Hayes, Sam Barratt, James Golding (Ferdinand, 83’) 

 

Oldham Athletic: Matthew Hudson, Reagan Ogle, Mark Kitching, Manny Monthe, Josh Lundstram (Kay, 76’), Mike Fondop, Tom Conlon ©, Charlie Raglan, Kai Payne, Will Sutton (Caprice, 46’), Kane Drummond (Norwood, 56’) 

 

Attendance: 1,223