Report: Magpies 2-2 Woking

It was a point apiece at York Road for Maidenhead United as a two-goal lead was cut back by Woking in a matter of minutes.  

 

There were two changes for Alan Devonshire’s Magpies as Nathan Ferguson replaced Joshua Johnson in the midfield three, while Miles Welch-Hayes started in defence in place of Manny Onariase. Sam Howes started his third successive game with Craig Ross still not available. 

 

Woking had made no changes from their home win against AFC Fylde last weekend with the ever-dangerous Dale Gorman starting again in the middle of the park. 

 

The Cards started the game with high pressure on the Magpies’ back line, and it wasn’t long before an excellent Gorman cross found Lewis Walker, but he headed just wide of the right post. 

 

Maidenhead United responded with much more intensity than how they started the game, winning three successive corners. However, Nathan Ferguson’s balls into the box were never met by a header from a black and white shirt. 

 

The Magpies were rewarded for their attacking efforts in the 25th minute when Reece Smith’s perfectly placed pass put the ball in the feet of Brendan Kiernan who slotted the ball into the bottom left. 

 

The away side fought hard for an equaliser as the first half neared its completion, but Lewis Walker and Inih Effiong weren’t able to get any shots away against a strong Sam Howes. 

 

Effiong was played through on goal by O’Brien in the 45th minute but the linesman’s flag was raised as the striker put the ball wide. 

 

 

The hosts started the second half on the attack and in the 60th minute, Ferguson’s corner was met by Welch-Hayes on the far side of the box who headed back across goal and into the net to make it 2-0. 

 

But it was heartbreak for the Magpies as their vital lead was quickly lost within a matter of minutes. Lewis Walker headed into the top left in the 62nd minute before O’Brien levelled the game in the 66th, both assisted by Dale Gorman. 

 

Pressure from Woking continued through substitute Osude on the right wing who made life difficult for the Maidenhead back line. Effiong almost put the Cards into the lead in the 76th minute when he headed wide from just yards out. 

 

The game heated up even more in the last 10 minutes with the Magpies desperate to regain their lead, but every attempt was stopped by Woking. Their best chance was a scrap in the box which was cleared by the away side. 

 

With five minutes added at the end of the game, Maidenhead had to throw everyone forward for a 40-yard Sam Barratt free-kick, their last chance to win the game. Knocked away by the defence, the ball was headed back in by Abrahams to Welch-Hayes on the line who thought he’d won the game, but the linesman flag was raised. 

 

While the loss of a two-nil lead was agony for the Magpies, relegation is not for certain. They travel to Wealdstone on Easter Monday hoping to secure a now crucial three points. 

 

 

Maidenhead United: Howes, de Havilland, Latty-Fairweather, Ferguson (Johnson, 69’), McCoulsky, Ferdinand, Pettit (Barratt, 80’), Smith, Clerima (Massey, 31’), Kiernan (Abrahams, 80’), Welch-Hayes 

 

Woking FC: Jaaskelainen, Okoli, Odusina, Hinds, Kelly-Ellis, Andrews, Goerman, Akinola (Osude, 45’, Anderson, 90+4’), O’Brien, Walker, Effiong 

 

Attendance: 1,827