Report: Maidenhead United 2-2 Rochdale

Alan Devonshire made one change to the side that drew 1-1 at Oldham Athletic on Tuesday with Jayden Mitchell-Lawson replacing Ashley Nathaniel-George. 

 

It was end-to-end in the opening stages of the match, with both sides having good spells of possessions but failing to find the key pass when in the attacking third. 

 

Casey Pettit had the first clear chance of the opening 45 as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box, his strike failed to trouble Rochdale keeper Louie Molden. 

 

Despite this, it was the visitors who started to stamp their authority on the game with lengthy spells of possession albeit not creating any clear-cut chances. 

 

Rochdale’s opening effort fell to Ethan Ebanks-Landell whose strike following a corner was well blocked by Maidenhead defender Sam Beckwith. 

 

Jayden Mitchell-Lawson was given a golden opportunity to score just before thirty minutes when his goal-bound header was well saved by Moulden. 

 

The visitors would take the lead moments later when Kairo Mitchell’s effort would sneak into the near-post. 

Maidenhead’s reaction to going 1-0 down was very positive with lots of possession. The Magpies came closest with a delivery into the box which deflected off a Rochdale defender and skimmed past the post. 

Beckwith then tested Moulden from distance moments later with a strike which was well saved by the Rochdale keeper. 

 

 

After a quiet opening ten minutes, Rochdale started to grow into the game controlling more of the ball. Harvey Gilmour had the first effort of the second half but his strike was well blocked by Will De Havilland. 

 

Maidenhead equalised just after the hour mark when Reece Smith got his third goal of the season. 

 

Substitute Chanka Zimba neatly played the ball through to Smith whose composed finish was too much for Moulden. 

 

Gilmour once again had an effort on goal to re-establish Dale’s lead in the 70th minute which was well blocked by Zimba. 

 

In this end-to-end game, Pettit was next to have a strike at goal getting on the end of a Brad Keetch delivery, his chance well saved by Moulden. 

 

Maidenhead took the lead in the 85th minute through Chanka Zimba who managed to get on the end of a loose ball, his strike was too much for Moulden. 

The visitors retaliated instantly with an equaliser when a delivery into the box was well finished by Tyrese Sinclair. 

 

Following those two minutes of madness, the game quietened down and both sides settled for a point. 

 

 

Maidenhead United - Craig Ross, Zico Asare, Sam Beckwith, Will De Havilland, James Golding, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson (Keetch 75’), Tobi Sho-Silva (Parsons 90’), Casey Pettit, Reece Smith, David Omilabu (Zimba 59’), Charlee Adams 

 

Rochdale – Louie Molden, Ryan East, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Tyrese Sinclair, Adam Clayton, Kairo Mitchell, Jesurun Uchegbulam (Hayes 74’), Jimmy Keohane, George Nevett (Taylor 90’), Kawku Oduroah, Harvey Gilmour (Rodney 74’)