Report: Maidenhead United 2-1 Ebbsfleet United

Maidenhead United secured a 2-1 victory against Ebbsfleet United under the floodlights at York Road. Goals from Tristan Abrahams and Shawn McCoulsky were enough to win all three points in Berkshire in a crucial game, despite a late scare through Josh Wright. 

 

United got the game underway and it would be the hosts who got the first big chance of the game. Reece Smith lifted a cute freekick into the back post, but Nathan Ferguson’s header back across goal was inches away from finding the net. 

 

The next ten minutes or so consisted of a lot of long balls and very few chances of note. That was until a long ball from the visitors landed at the feet of Dominic Poleon, but the striker could only sting the palms of Craig Ross. 

 

Just before the half-hour mark Ebbsfleet again went close, a dangerous delivery from Ben Chapman ended in a goalmouth scrabble but some valiant Maidenhead defending kept the visitors at bay. 

 

No more than a minute later, Maidenhead had a chance of their own. A looping ball was well controlled by Tristan Abrahams, just inside the six-yard box, but by the time he had chance to think the ball was smothered by Mark Cousins. 

 

The game gradually became more and more open, creating chances a plenty. Ebbsfleet found space down the right wing with Rakish Bingham cutting the ball back to Wes Fonguck, but the bouncing ball meant his shot flew well off target. 

 

On the 39th minute we had breakthrough thanks to Tristan Abrahams. The Magpies forward dropped deep to pick up the ball before feeding Smith to run with the ball. Smith drove into the box and delivered a cross, the cross deflected to the edge of the area, and who was arriving late to smash into the top corner – Tristan Abrahams. 

 

 

Maidenhead started the second half where they left off, on the front foot. With Shawn McCoulsky having a chance to extend the Magpies lead, but his shot on the turn was blocked. 

 

McCoulsky was again causing havoc, this time as he broke into the box, he was unended and the ref had no choice but to point to the spot. McCoulsky was quick to get up and grab the ball before confidently slotting into the bottom right corner and doubling Maidenhead’s lead. 

 

Despite already being on the scoresheet, McCoulsky was hungry for more. He battled with Mustapha Olagunju on halfway and managed to break through with the loose ball, but his shot rolled narrowly passed the far post. 

 

Halfway through the first half, again McCoulsky’s running was causing real problems. This time as he looked to get in behind the defence he was tripped by Olagunju and the defender was lucky to escape with just a yellow card. 

 

As Ebbsfleet looked to find a way back into the game, again the Magpies defence stood strong. Chapman had a great chance to strike from the edge of the area, but Will de Havilland flung himself in front of the ball to make a crucial block. 

 

More heroic defending again kept the visitors out, this time Miles Welch-Hayes and Casey Pettit putting their bodies on the line. Firstly, Welch-Hayes recovered quickly to clear a shot off the line, when it looked goal bound. Then Pettit got in an important block to deflect another shot away from danger. 

 

Ebbsfleet did pull one back in added time through Josh Wright, who curled in from range to deny Maidenhead a clean sheet. 

 

 

Following the win, United travel to Lincolnshire on Saturday for their first ever clash with Boston United at the Jakemans Community Stadium. 

 

Maidenhead United: Craig Ross ©, Will de Havilland, Kevin Lokko, Nathan Ferguson, Shawn McCoulsky, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson (Barratt 81’), Casey Pettit, Reece Smith (Uwakwe 85’), Owen Cochrane, Miles Welch-Hayes, Tristan Abrahams 

 

Ebbsfleet United: Mark Cousins, Josh Wright ©, Shamar Lawson (Cundle 46’), Rakish Bingham, Wesley Fonguck, Dominic Poleon, Franklin Domi, Ben Chapman, Mustapha Olagunju, Thomas Dallison, Craig Tanner (Randall 70’)