Report: Maidenhead United 2-1 Gateshead

Maidenhead United secured an eighth straight season in the Vanarama National League with a dramatic late win against promotion-chasing Gateshead. 

 

The Magpies made a strong start to the match, forcing their high-flying visitors onto the backfoot with a number of dangerous set pieces. A foul on marked-man Jayden Mitchell-Lawson was nearly punished as Sam Barratt’s free-kick found Casey Pettit who volleyed over. 

 

At the other end Will De Havilland blocked a goal-bound shot from Ben Worman and Luke Hannant had a tame shot from the edge of the box easily saved by Ross. 

 

United began to dominate as the half wore on; Will De Havilland saw a headed attempt at goal gathered, the ever-lively Reece Smith saw his dangerous run snuffed out by alert Heed ‘keeper Nathan Harness and moments later Reece’s ball across the box found Shawn McCoulsky who nudged the ball wide of the far post. 

 

Callum Whelan dramatically saw his low effort cleared off the line by Sam Beckwith and an end-to-end first half could easily have seen an opening goal in stoppage time as firstly Casey Pettit dispossessed his man and fed McCoulsky who stabbed his shot into the side-netting. 

 

Tom Allan suddenly broke for the away side and a shot by Connor McBride actually hit his own player in an offside position. Before the half time whistle could be blown by referee Mr Martin Mitchell-Lawson found more space on the right and his pull back squirmed to McCoulsky in front of goal whose efforts were thwarted by Harness, the Magpies forward however was adjudged to be offside. 

 

The game took a dramatic swing towards the visitors from the north-east early in the second half. Will De Havilland was caught in possession and Dinanga forced the ball home, albeit from an offside position. A flowing move involving substitute Ashley Nathaniel-George opened up a chance for Casey Pettit who saw his shot saved and United we made to pay the penalty – literally – a minute later. De Havilland fouled Connor McBride and Hannant stepped up to stroke home the penalty. 

 

For a long while the visitors looked the more likely to grab the next goal. Tom Allan was wasteful when breaking and smashing his shot wide, prolific Marcus Dinanga was spectacularly denied by Craig Ross at point blank range to keep United in the game. 

 

And those efforts were rewarded in the final ten minutes of the game. With time running out, Casey Pettit’s free-kick was headed back across goal by Alan Massey for Kevin Lokko to glance the ball home. Ross had to deny substitute Dajaune Brown at his near post and Callum Whelan volleyed wide before the thrilling denouement. 

 

Chasing a long ball, McCoulsky bundled past the defender and rounded Harness to score and send Bell Street ballistic. Tristan Abrahams was denied by Harness in time added on to time added on but Alan Devonshire was happy with two goals on his birthday. 

 

Maidenhead: Ross, Asare (Abrahams ’73), Beckwith (Massey 63’), De Havilland, Lokko, McCoulsky, Mitchell-Lawson, Pettit, Smith, Clerima (Nathaniel-George ’37), Barratt. 

 

Gateshead: Harness, Hannant, Richardson, Storey, Grayson, Francis, Whelan, Worman, McBride (Adom ’74), Allan (Olley ’74), Dinanga (Brown ’77). 

 

Attendance: 1391