Report: Two for Tuesday as United Reach Top 7

Maidenhead United returned to the playoff places following a brilliant 2-1 win over Salisbury on Tuesday night. 

 

Ryan Peters named three changes to the side who beat Dagenham on Saturday. Will de Havilland and Manny Onariase returned to the defensive line up, while Dillon De Silva made his first appearance in the starting XI. 

 

Dulson was fiery off the back of his late winner over the weekend, with Camron Gbadebo intercepting his early cross destined for Josh Popoola. Duls had a shot of his own shortly afterwards, but Will Buse held his 25-yard strike in the fifth minute. 

 

Salisbury hadn’t replied for six in the reverse fixture, but had the ball in the back of the net after ten minutes on Tuesday at York Road. Josh Hedges struck low off the rebound from a corner, and Jordi van Stappershoef could only palm away his powered strike to the feet of Tommy Willlard, who tapped home an early lead. 

 

United found the net only minutes later, but the linesman’s flag prevented an equaliser. Good buildup from Miles Welch-Hayes and Dillon De Silva played through Josh Umerah, who selflessly squared it to Dulson. The celebratory arms on the Bell Street End rose simultaneously with the linesman’s, forcing United to continue pressing for an equaliser. 

 

It was far from a flat performance for the Magpies despite the one goal deficit. Asher Yearwood smashed a strike towards the low corner, prompting another good save from Buse, while his strike from outside the box took a deflection off Umerah, sending the Salisbury ‘keeper the wrong way in the process, only to loopingly drift centimetres wide of the posts. 

 

United got the goal they undoubtedly deserved on the cusp of half-time through Manny Onariase. The defender rose high at the near post to head home a lovely corner from Jordon Ragguette to send the teams into the dressing room level at the break. 

 

 

An early threatening cross was the only highlight of the opening 20 of the second half, as De Silva found his cross scurry across the face of goal. 

 

Ryan Peters opted for fresh legs entering the final third, and Josh Popoola’s low dart from a narrow angle panicked the Salisbury defence. Down the other end, Salisbury had a penalty shout ruled out as Manny Onariase brought down Noah Coppin, but the vocal appeals were dismissed. 

 

Dulson couldn’t connect as well as he’d have liked with Jayden Mitchell-Lawson’s cross, with his header lofting over the bar with 20 to play, but he wouldn’t be too disheartened ten minutes later as he contributed to a second late goal in as many matches. Charging down the right flank on the break, Dulson squared it to Cameron Eubank – his first goal for the club – to send the Canal End into jubilation. 

 

The eight minutes of injury time did little to dampen spirits, with United holding on and bursting into the playoffs thanks to another three points and favourable results elsewhere. 

 

 

Magpies: van Stappershoef, Ragguette (Bartley, 64’), de Havilland ©, Welch-Hayes, De Silva (Popoola, 59’), Yearwood, Mitchell-Lawson (Eubank, 79’), Robinson, Umerah (Pendlebury, 59’), Onariase 

 

Salisbury: Buse, Lee (Keeya, 68’), Revan, Gbadebo, McIntyre, Ogunleye, Dabre, Willard, Joliffe, Coppin (Landa, 78’), Hedges (Odokonyero, 61’)