Report: Maidenhead United 0-1 FC Halifax Town

Maidenhead United fell to a 1-0 defeat to FC Halifax Town as Florent Hoti’s second-half strike was the game’s only goal. 

 

After a miserable morning in Berkshire, the sun broke through and the bright start to the afternoon was matched by Maidenhead. Inside the opening two minutes, some space opened up for Nathan Ferguson who jinked his way through a couple of defenders before cannoning his shot against the foot of the post. 

 

The promising start continued; this time it was Tristan Abrahams with an audacious effort from just outside the centre-circle but unfortunately his shot sailed just over the bar. 

 

With 30 minutes on the clock, the game had gone relatively quiet – with Halifax finding their way into the game and United’s openings becoming fewer. 

 

This was until Jayden Mitchell-Lawson broke through, beating Adam Alimi-Adetoro with a smart piece of skill, before trying to round the keeper but Sam Johnson anticipated it well and took the ball cleanly. 

 

United had a chance just on the 45th minute as Reece Smith nearly squeezed into the box, but some good defending prevented him getting an opening for a shot. 

 

 

A bright start to the first half, Maidenhead nearly went one better in the opening 10 minutes of the second. A brilliant ball from Craig ross played Smith in behind, the latter tried to square it to McCoulsky, but his attempt was saved. The loose ball then fell to Abrahams who fired goalwards, his strike deflected off McCoulsky into the net, but he was adjudged to be in an offside position by the linesman. 

 

After a very quiet 20 minutes, The Shaymen did eventually take the lead through Florent Hoti. A nice piece of interplay between Hoti and substitute Max Wright left the midfielder with room to drill his shot into the far corner. 

 

McCoulsky was inches away from providing an instant response when he beat Johnson to the ball, but his shot bounced off the outside of the post and behind. 

 

In the dying embers of the game, a ball lifted to the back post found Will de Havilland whose acrobatic attempt failed to trouble Johnson. 

 

 

Maidenhead welcome Ebbsfleet United to York Road on Tuesday night in a huge game for The Magpies. 

 

Maidenhead United: Craig Ross, Will de Havilland, Kevin Lokko, Nathan Ferguson, Shawn McCoulsky (Sho-Silva 86’), Jayden Mitchell-Lawson (Ajose 77’), Casey Pettit, Reece Smith, Miles Welch-Hayes, Tristan Abrahams, James Golding (Barratt 84’) 

 

FC Halifax Town: Sam Johnson, Adam Senior, Jack Evans, Jamie Cooke, (Oluwabori 90’) Angelo Cappello (Galvin 77’), Will Smith, Florent Hoti (Pugh 90’), Adan George (Wright 64’), Adam Alimi-Adetoro (Cummings 61’), Billy Waters, Scott High