Report: Wealdstone 1-1 Magpies

It was just the solitary point on the road for Maidenhead United as Kallum Cesay's goal from close range cancelled out Brendan Kiernan's fourth minute opener. 

 

Alan Devonshire made one change to the side which drew against Woking on Good Friday, with Joshua Johnson replacing Nathan Ferguson. The bench, aside from the aforementioned swap in midfield, remained unchanged. 

 

Both teams required a win to maximise their chances of survival in the National League, but the travelling faithful were the more joyous throughout much of the first half thanks to Kiernan's early goal. Receiving Kane Ferdinand's delivery like a long-awaited parcel from the postman, the midfielder tapped home underneath Dante Baptiste from six yards out. 

 

United dominated much of the first half-hour, bar a brief interlude for Alex Reid's strike well over the crossbar in the 16th minute. Shawn McCoulsky's intercepted run fell to Reece Smith, who perhaps should have scored in a one-on-one with Baptiste. Ten minutes later, Smith tried to return the favour to the #9, but his pass was intercepted by Deonysus Woodman. 

 

Despite a dominant start, lacklustre defending led to an equaliser for the Stones. A long looping ball over the box landed at the feet of Will Randall, who passed to Connor McAvoy. A more accurate delivery followed, with Cesay bundling into the roof of the net five minutes before half-time. 

 

 

The second half was one you'd expect from two teams in a relegation battle: tense, gritty, and a lack of quality at times. 

 

United were unable to re-establish their first half dominance, with loanee 'keeper Sam Howes forced into an important save on the hour mark to deny Enzio Boldewijn's deflected effort. 

 

The Magpies have struggled with set pieces throughout the season, and attacking them proved to be problematic for much of the second half. Corners soon led to counterattacks on occasion, while free kicks struggled to find their intended target. 

 

At the other end of the pitch, Howes superbly defended the United goal, preventing Boldewijn's pass from reaching its intended target in the 66th minute. Oldham loanee Reid was also dangerous in the penalty area, with his flamboyant bicycle kick flying wide of the post on the cusp of stoppage time. 

 

There would be little further to report as an extremely open affair came to an end, and both sides would have to settle for a point as the sun emerged in North West London. 

 

 

Our next game will be away to Ebbsfleet for the annual end of season fancy dress fixture on Saturday, 26th April. 

 

Wealdstone: Baptiste, Woodman, Dyer (Mariappa, 84'), Boldewijn, Carayol, Randall (Hutchinson, 71'), Cesay, Reid, McAvoy, Grant, Sohna (Kretzschmar, 71') 

 

Magpies: Howes, de Havilland (Massey, 54'), Latty-Fairweather, McCoulsky, Ferdinand (Sho-Silva 88'), Johnson (Abrahams, 63'), Pettit (Ferguson, 76'), Smith, Clerima, Kiernan (Barratt, 63'), Welch-Hayes 

 

Attendance: 1,975