A frustratingly flat first hour almost led to a late Maidenhead United comeback in a 2-1 Non-League Day defeat at York Road.
Ryan Peters made three changes to the side which beat Dorking Wanderers a week prior. Harry Pritchard returned to the starting XI, with Jordon Raguette and Manny Onariase joining the back five.
Jordi van Stappershoef was kept busy early on, as Louis Britton tested him from six yards on. The Magpies’ ‘keeper did well to get back up to react for the rebound, fired by Will Dawes.
Weston didn’t have to wait long for their next opportunity: a free kick from crossing range. Callum Wood delivered to Emlyn Lewis. His shot was scuffed back to Scot Bennett, who struck from around the penalty spot only to see his effort cleared off the line by Miles Welch-Hayes.
A lacklustre first half saw United only really have one opportunity, as Pritchard volleyed a rash clearance well over the bar. Perhaps a second may have come from a Weston-super-Mare handball in a crossing position shortly prior, but no foul was given.
The hosts took the lead in the 37th minute, with Bennett yet again struggling to connect as he would’ve liked. This time, however, Britton was able to get there before a United defender, allowing him to tap home with relative ease.
Half-time: Magpies 0-1 Weston-super-Mare
United needed a strong fightback following the break, something which got off to the worst possible start when Leo Pecover capitalised on a defensive mishap. The #8 picked up the ball, zigzagging his way through the Magpies’ defence to slot home on his left foot two minutes into the first half.
Ryan Peters needed fresh legs to spur any hope of an unlikely comeback, and shortly after the introduction of Asher Yearwood, that unlikely comeback became very plausible. An interesting set piece routine saw Pritchard deliver a short corner to Matt Robinson, who was able to very cleverly flick past Max Harris in the Weston goal at the near post.
Luck couldn’t be blamed for going two down, but it certainly could for the struggle to equalise. A Jayden Mitchell-Lawson cross was somehow not given as a handball, much to the disbelief of the busy Bell Street End, whereas Robinson missed out on déjà vu when his header from Pritchard’s corner struck the crossbar.
United, having been nowhere in the first half and a third of the second, peppered the Bell Street End in the closing stages, but saw their momentum halted on more than one occasion by Harris requiring treatment in his own goal. Despite the seven minutes of added time, it weren’t to be for the Magpies who fell short by the full-time.
Full-time: Magpies 1-2 Weston-super-Mare
Magpies: van Stappershoef, Ragguette, de Havilland, Welch-Hayes, Mitchell-Lawson, Robinson, Pritchard (May-Parrott, 84’), Umerah, Cochrane (Yearwood, 62’), Odelusi (Pendlebury, 52’), Onariase
Weston-super-Mare: Harris, Bernard (Popre, 68’), Jagger Cane (Backwell, 68’), Ellison, Pecover (Coulson, 68’), Britton, Dawes (Avery, 85’), Bennett, Lewis, Spokes, Wood
Attendance: 1,648
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