Report: United Bow Out of FA Cup After Defeat to Faversham

Maidenhead United crashed out of the Emirates FA Cup as Tashi-Jay Kwaiye scored the only goal of a game which saw the Magpies have two cleared off the line. 

 

Alan Devonshire made three changes to the side who beat Chelmsford the previous week. Corie Andrews returned to the starting lineup along with Manny Onariase, while Kai Yearn made his first starting appearance in a black-and-white shirt. 

 

Within three minutes, the Magpies had hit the crossbar. Jordon Ragguette’s cross clattered the upright and rebounded into play, with Liam Dulson having hit shot from close range blocked shortly thereafter. 

 

With two divisions separating the two sides, United sought to establish dominance by maximising possession and forcing their opponents to chase the ball. 

 

Chances, therefore, were mostly down the Canal End. Kane Ferdinand headed Josh Popoola’s free kick just wide on the quarter-hour mark, while Ragguette fired inches off target from 30 yards out. 

 

The first half continued with little else to report. Jack Parter almost put the ball in his own net from an Owen Cochrane delivery, but fortunately for Faversham the ball trickled out for a corner which was subsequently dealt with. 

 

Against the run of play, Faversham took the lead on the brink of half-time. United failed to close down Ethan Smith’s shot properly, allowing Tashi-Jay Kwaiye to scrape home from close range. 

 

 

Emerging from the tunnel, United sought an equaliser by capitalising on Liam Dulson’s pace down the left wing. Dulson took aim and forced Roshan Greensall to palm away. Kai Yearn latched onto the rebound, although was unable to connect as he would have liked allowing Greensall to make another block. 

 

Faversham were holding out for the lead, but that did not stop the visitors from pressing for a second. A counterattack from a goal kick called Jordi van Stappershoef into action as Smith struck straight towards the ‘keeper, while Eniye Amgbaduba missed a clear-cut chance from a cross as his header went wide. 

 

United poked away at their visitors’ defence, and even had one cleared off the line just past the hour mark. Matt Robinson turned and shot inside the penalty area, and beat the ‘keeper. Bradley Simms’ block took most of the pace from the goal-bound effort, allowing Greensall to desperately scoop the ball off his own line. 

 

It was déjà vu a mere minute later. This time, Yearn took aim off the back of a promising run, and Greensall got a touch on it. The Faversham ‘keeper desperately crawled backwards, diving on top of the ball before it crossed the line. 

 

In full credit to Faversham, the visitors continued to use their few opportunities to test van Stappershoef. A set piece saw Ben Gorham head towards goal, and only a fabulous diving save from the Dutchman prevented a second. 

 

Having had two cleared off the line and already struck the woodwork once, Dulson made it a second strike – this time against the post – as United’s fate looked sealed. Faversham held on, progressing through to the third qualifying round as the Magpies’ 144th FA Cup campaign came to an end. 

 

 

Magpies: van Stappershoef, Bartley (Welch-Hayes, 73’ [Dundas, 90’]), Ragguette, Andrews, Ferdinand (Harriott, 86’), Robinson, Dulson, Cochrane, Popoola, Yearn (Stewart, 73’), Onariase 

 

Faversham: Greensall, Simms, Parter, Pont, Davies, Gorham, Smith, Kwaiye, Amgbaduba (Caney-Bryan, 79’), Fagg, Campell (Newman, 79’) 

 

Attendance: 624