Report: Sports Spoil Magpies Run

 

Maidenhead United’s winning run in the Enterprise National League South was put to an end by previously winless Eastbourne Borough who benefitted from an error to win on a tough afternoon at York Road. 

 

The away side started the match the more likely of the two teams but, in truth, neither side managed to carve out much by way of clear-cut chances. It took an industrious piece of running with the ball from Remy Clerima – operating in midfield in place of the injured Matt Robinson - to fashion the first shot on goal after 12 minutes, the loose ball running kindly to Liam Dulson who was denied by Ryan Sandford at his near post from a tight angle. United suffered a blow midway through the first period when the injured Josh Umerah was forced to withdraw in favour of Corie Andrews, the substitute thereafter having the best of the few chances which came along. 

 

A ball into the near post just after the half hour found Andrews who turned but could not get his shot away. Liam Dulson turned outside the box a matter of minutes later and was denied by Sandford who got smartly behind the line of the ball. In United’s next attack, Andrews headed a cross from United’s brightest spark Josh Popoola back across goal but no United player was able to get a telling touch. Eastbourne forced Van Stappershoef’s only save of the day before the break, Pemi Aderoju heading Harvey Lintott’s cross straight at the goalkeeper. 

 

 

Maidenhead started the second half on the front foot and nearly made inroads within thirty seconds of the restart when Dulson got into a great position onto the byline but his cut back managed to find only an Eastbourne player when there seemed plenty of black and white shirts in attendance. Moments later, a key moment when a deflected reverse pass from Popoola found Andrews with only the ‘keeper to beat but the angle was against him and Sandford saved with his legs. 

 

A looping header from Clerima following a Popoola cross was well gathered by Sandford before the Sports scored the decisive goal just after the hour mark. A corner from the railway side was floated in and misjudged by the Magpies' goalkeeper, leaving Freddie Carter with the easiest of opportunities to score. Thereafter, shell-shocked Maidenhead huffed and puffed, continually launching the ball into the box but were ultimately unable to create many quality chances. Popoola and substitute Asher Yearwood had goal-bound efforts blocked and inside five minutes of added time Popoola rather scuffed an effort which Sandford threw himself on top of as the points rather meekly slipped away. 

 

 

Magpies: Van Stappershoef, Bartley, De Havilland, Welch-Hayes, Ferdinand (sub Yearwood ’71), Mitchell-Lawson (sub Barratt ’71), Umerah (sub Andrews ’23), Dulson (sub Stewart ’82), Clerima, Popoola, Onariase. Subs not used: Andrews, Cochrane, Yearn, Dundas. 

 

Sports: Sandford, Pitblado (sub Quick ’80), Gbadedo, Fairnie, Anifowose (sub Davis ’72), Aderdoju, Eastmond (sub Sagaf ’67), Carter, Grout (sub Uchegbulam), Lintott, Trusty. Subs not used: Searle, Akinwale, Anokye. 

 

Attendance: 2,059