Report: Second Saturday Defeat in Loss at Farnborough

Maidenhead United slumped to a second defeat in successive Saturdays in a 1-0 loss on the road to Farnborough. 

 

Alan Devonshire initially made one change to the starting XI, with Ryan Bartley replacing Manny Onariase. However, there was a late amendment to the team sheet, as Miles Welch-Hayes took Owen Cochrane’s place at left-back. 

 

United had the first opportunity in Hampshire with a set piece four minutes in for a foul on Corie Andrews. Josh Popoola’s delivery found Remy Clerima at the far post, but the defender was unable to keep his header on target. 

 

In a similar fashion, Farnborough themselves saw their first chance of the afternoon come from a free kick. Jack Young played it short to Dom Poleon, who took aim at Jordi van Stappershoef’s net, with the Magpies’ ‘keeper making a sterling save to prevent the opportunity. 

 

A quiet first half picked up towards the closing stages, as Poleon proved to be the dangerman for the Boro. The striker struck the wrong side of the post on a breakthrough with five minutes to go, but his best chance came on the cusp of half-time. A defensive slipup from Remy Clerima saw Poleon through on goal, with van Stappershoef able to get a glove on it. It proved to be a vital touch, taking the power out of his effort and allowing Will de Havilland to clear off the line. 

 

Moments later, United had a chance to take the lead for themselves. Clerima, this time down the Farnborough end, floated the ball towards goal, forcing Jack Turner to palm away the danger. 

 

The advertised 60 seconds of stoppage time entered the fourth minute as de Havilland fouled his man just outside the box. Toby Bower struck toward the top corner, but van Stappershoef pulled off a stunning save to keep the game goalless heading into the break. 

 

 

Devonshire replaced Corie Andrews with Asher Yearwood as the teams emerged for the second half, which started in a similar quiet fashion to the first, bar a dangerous free kick from Josh Popoola forcing the Farnborough defence to clear at the near post. 

 

Poleon continued to test the United defence, with the linesman flag denying him a shot at goal as the game entered the final third. His efforts would soon be rewarded, however, assisted by the Boro’s new signing Tommy-Lee Higgs from Sailsbury. Only minutes after his introduction, Higgs played through Poleon, who found himself with space in the box to slot home underneath van Stappershoef in the 74th minute. 

 

The Magpies pressed for an equaliser, but saw little in the way of clear-cut chances. Right-back Ryan Bartley had a pop from 20 yards, although his powered effort drifted wide of the post. 

 

Four minutes of added time saw Louie Holzman sent off for a second bookable offence, but it was too little, too late as the Magpies slumped to defeat. 

 

 

Farnborough: Turner, Robinson ©, Young, Lomas, Poleon (Smith, 90’), Bower, Huke (Higgs, 71’), Sandah (Byrd, 85’), Bloomfield (Bingham, 71’), Tarbotton, Holzman 

 

Magpies: van Stappershoef, Bartley, de Havilland ©, Welch-Hayes, Andrews (Yearwood, 46’), Ferdinand (Stewart, 78’), Mitchell-Lawson (Barratt, 69’), Robinson, Dulson, Clerima, Popoola 

 

Attendance: 774