Report: Magpies 3-1 Wealdstone

A dominant Maidenhead United performance rounds off 2024 with three goals and three points under the lights. Shawn McCoulsky grabbed a brace while Reece Smith ensured the points remained in Berkshire scoring in the closing minutes. 

 

A chilly afternoon at York Road started brightly for United, with Reece Smith and Owen Cochrane combining well down the right. The new permanent signing delivered a nice ball into the area causing a moment of panic in the Wealdstone area before Toby Steward cleared any danger. 

 

The Magpies ventured forward again and again Cochrane was involved, this time going for goal himself, but his effort sailed over Steward’s goal. 

 

With just over 15 minutes on the clock, United’s right-hand side was causing real problems for the visitors. Smith drove towards goal but could only earn a corner for his efforts. 

 

A dominant first half-hour was capped off by a goal from Shawn McCoulsky. The number nine was positive in his running and was rewarded by finding himself through on goal to slot past Steward’s helpless dive. 

 

United’s dominant first half continued, looking likely to double their lead. However, no clear-cut chances came their way, and they cruised relatively comfortably into the interval. 

 

 

Wealdstone came out strong in the second-half and drew level, when Max Kretzschmar played a looping ball over to Alex Reid who lifted his shot over Craig Ross. 

 

Within moments of Wealdstone drawing level, United retook the lead and it was that man Shawn McCoulsky again. Tristan Abrahams broke behind the visitors’ defence before unselfishly playing in McCoulsky to finish into an empty net. 

 

Abrahams came inches away from getting his name on the scoresheet halfway through the second half, cutting in on his ever-dangerous left foot but his curling effort crashed off the post. 

 

Just minutes later, the visitors were reduced to ten men as substitute Craig Eastmond was sent off for a rash challenge on Reece Smith. 

 

With ten minutes to go United wrapped up all three points through an assertive finish from Reece Smith. A powerful run from Nathan Ferguson ended with a beautifully disguised pass into the path of Smith who calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, finishing with aplomb. 

 

 

The Magpies saw out 2024 in style with an all-round strong performance against a tough Wealdstone side in a scrap down the bottom of the National League. Maidenhead United will travel to Woking on New Years Day, looking to start 2025 the way this finished 2024. 

 

Magpies: Craig Ross ©, Tyrese Dyce (Barratt 89’), Will de Havilland, Kevin Lokko, Nathan Ferguson, Shawn McCoulsky, Casey Pettit, Reece Smith (Coyne 87’), Owen Cochrane, Tristan Abrahams (Bell 90’), Manny Onariase 

 

Wealdstone: Toby Steward, Jack Cook (Woodman 76’), Anthony Georgiou, Enzio Bolderwijn (Eastmond 32’), Max Kretzschmar (Obiero 72’), Adrian Mariappa ©, Sam Ashford, Kallum Cesay, Alex Reid, Jaydn Mundle-Smith, Jack Wells-Smith