Report: Maidenhead United 4-2 Dorking Wanderers

Maidenhead secured all 3 points as they beat Dorking Wanderers 4-2 in a massive 6 pointer at York Road. 

 

Alan Devonshire made 3 changes to the side who lost 4-1 to Fylde in the North-West last weekend. Alan Massey came in at centre back in place of Will De Havilland, Remy Clerima dropped out the team for Zico Asare and Ashley Nathaniel-George also started after being on the bench last week. 

 

Despite the Magpies starting the stronger of the two sides, the first chance to open the scoring fell to the visitors. A ball was whipped in to Prior, whose header was fumbled by Ross, but Priors rebound was cleared well off the line by Casey Pettit. 

 

Maidenhead responded quickly with a chance of their own, as Tristan Abrahams found himself through on goal, but Harrison Male was down well to push the striker's effort wide for a corner. 

 

The Magpies found themself in front minutes later through left back Sam Beckwith. The defender picked up the ball just inside the box on the left wing, and fired a drilled shot into the bottom right corner. 

 

Reece Smith then had a great chance to double the lead straight from the restart, as he danced past a defender before trying to catch out Male at his near post, but the Dorking shot stopper was equal to it. 

 

Maidenhead would regret this missed chance, as Dorking counter attacked down the left wing with Charlie Carter, who cut in onto his right foot and his scuffed shot found its way past Craig Ross to level the score. 

 

After a spell with little action, the hosts would restore their lead just before the half hour mark. Reece Smith found himself in space outside the area, and his effort bounced off the post and nestled in the back of the Dorking net for his 10th goal of the season. 

 

5 minutes before half time, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson doubled Maidenhead's lead in spectacular fashion. The winger picked up the ball on the halfway line, dribbled past 3 Dorking defenders and his left footed strike flew into the far corner. 

 

 

After a slow start to the half from both teams, a goal scoring chance finally fell the way of the hosts just before the hour mark. Tristan Abrahams picked up on a loose ball from a Dorking defender, played the ball to Reece Smith who cut it back to Casey Pettit, but the midfielder's curling shot failed to trouble Male. 

 

Dorking had a great chance to get back into the game shortly after. A cross from the left wing found Jason Prior at the back post, who smashed the ball over the bar and out of the stadium with his left foot. 

 

Jason Prior once again found himself with a golden chance, as a mix up at the back saw the ball fall for him at close range, but he couldn’t keep his header down. 

 

Prior would make up for his missed chances in the 65th minute, as a ball was floated in from the right wing, which Prior threw himself at and his header bobbled into the bottom left corner of Craig Ross’ net. 

 

With 10 minutes left of the 90, Maidenhead had a chance to seal all 3 points. Barratt looked to catch Male out at the front post from a corner, the goalkeeper got the ball clear but only as far as Pettit whose effort was deflected into the hands of Harrison Male. 

 

Maidenhead eventually wrapped up the 3 points in the 90th minute, as Tristan Abrahams was slipped through on goal, cut past the last defender onto his left foot and fired into the roof of the net to restore the Magpies two goal advantage. 

 

 

Maidenhead United - Craig Ross, Zico Asare, Kevin Lokko, Alan Massey, Sam Beckwith (De Havilland 75’), Kane Ferdinand, Casey Pettit, Reece Smith (Adams 89’), Jayden Mitchell-Lawson (Barratt 68’), Ashley Nathaniel-George, Tristan Abrahams 

 

Dorking Wanderers - Harrison Male, Bobby Joe Taylor, Daniel Pybus, Tony Craig, James Muitt, Jason Prior, Charlie Carter, Luke Moore (McManus 71’), Haydn Hollis (Rutherford 46’), Barry Fuller (Francomb 46’), Thomas Blair