Maidenhead United were forced to settle for a replay in the Emirates FA Cup on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Somerset. 
 
David Duru’s 76th minute goal cancelled out Reece Smith’s first-half strike during the Magpies first-ever visit to Taunton Town. 
 
Both sides came into the game in good form. United had won their last four in all competitions leading up to the Fourth Round Qualifying fixture, while the Peacocks were unbeaten since mid-August. 
 
Alan Devonshire’s side started the game much stronger, piling on pressure throughout the first-half. Reece Smith would commence a string of close chances for the visitors in the 18th minute, with his effort from just outside the box passing over the crossbar. 
 
Smith would be involved in United’s next best opportunity when his cross found Shawn McCoulsky. The striker’s downward header forced Adam Parkes into a good save approaching the half-hour mark. 
 
Shortly afterwards, Casey Pettit would become the latest Magpie to find himself aiming at goal. His curled effort was blocked by the foot of Ollie Woodhouse, taking away his shot’s momentum and allowing Parkes to collect with relative comfort. 
 
However, a goal seemed imminent, and it wasn't long before Smith opened the scoring. Following a good passage of play by United, Smith latched onto the ball from 12 yards out. Parkes’ hand was not enough to prevent a well-deserved goal, and the Magpies would enter the break leading by a goal to nil. 
 
Half-time: Taunton Town 0-1 Maidenhead United 
 
The second half began as a much quieter affair than the first. United thought they’d doubled their lead just after the hour mark, but Kevin Lokko’s header resulting from a free kick was ruled out for offside. 
 
A series of substitutions provided the Peacocks with momentum, and it wouldn't be long before Duru’s fresh legs gave the Southern League Premier South side an equaliser. A bit of a scramble resulted in Duru firing home from close range in the 76th minute - just seven minutes after he entered the field of play. 
 
United faced the last 15 minutes under pressure from a side which has won three games to reach this stage of the competition, and Craig Ross did exceptionally well to deny a Taunton winner with a remarkable triple-save in the closing stages. 
 
Full-time: Taunton Town 1-1 Maidenhead United 
 
Maidenhead will now host the Peacocks at York Road on Tuesday, 15th October to decide who progresses to the FA Cup First Round Proper. 
 
The game has been assigned as ball number 64 in Monday evening’s draw, where teams from League One and League Two enter the competition. 
 
For many, the First Round draw is an exciting moment. But, speaking after the game, assistant manager Ryan Peters said the squad were “not even thinking” about who they may face in the next round. 
 
“We’ve got to get this game out of the way first; we've got to make sure we're at our very best,” Peters said. [Taunton] are a good side, and they took us right to the wire. So we've got to make sure we put it right on Tuesday.” 
 
Taunton: Parkes, Woodhouse, Down, Hodgson, Jones (Edwards, 80'), Lewis, Purrington (Duru, 69'), Moulden (Feltham, 87'), Smith ©, Brain, Corrick (Ferris, 69') 
 
Magpies: Ross ©, de Havilland, Lokko, McCoulsky, Mitchell-Lawson, Pettit, Smith, Cochrane, Welch-Hayes, Abrahams (Barratt, 88'), Golding 
 
Attendance: 1,364 
Tagged as: Club, Men
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