The Magpies settled for a deserved point from a goalless draw at Hemel Hempstead Town, missing an opportunity to leapfrog their opponents into the National League South play-off places in a low-key encounter which was short on clear chances.
Interim manager Ryan Peters was forced into one change from the side which had disposed of Hampton & Richmond the previous Saturday. Remy Clerima was not fit enough to start so Asher Yearwood took the Frenchman’s place in the starting XI. It was a slow start to the game by the Magpies and Yearwood it was who was caught in possession in the opening minute and was forced to concede a free-kick on the edge of the area. Making the first of two high quality saves early on, Jordi Van Stappershoef plunged to his left to keep out a goal bound free-kick from former Magpie Kyran Wiltshire. The Dutchman then did well to keep out a well struck effort from Millar Matthews-Lewis that otherwise looked bound for the top corner.
The Tudors have only lost once at home in the league on their Focus Community Stadium 4G this season and United found the hosts a tough nut to crack albeit the confidence of four league wins in a row began to shine through as the first half wore on and the visitors began to dominate without creating a big chance. Joint top-scorer Liam Dulson rifled an effort wide of the target after unselfish hold-up play by Josh Umerah. The home side had a brief rally when a dangerous free-kick ended up at the feet of Tudors captain Kyle Ajayi but he could not get the ball under control when well placed. Maidenhead looked the more likely thereafter, with Umerah squeezing way into the box only to see his byline pull back hacked clear by Hemel with a number of Magpies in attendance.
The second period continued to be a war of attrition, with Maidenhead enjoying more of the ball but a defence led by the outstanding Ajayi standing firm. Just before the hour Josh Popoola found himself in space for once, but the in-form forward twisted and turned one time too many and allowed Hemel to get an important block in. Umerah was agonisingly close to connecting to a deflected Ragguette shot albeit from an offside position.
Into the final ten minutes, Hemel thought they had the breakthrough when a second ball into the box following a dangerous flick towards goal by Matthew Achuba from a corner initially cleared by Maidenhead saw the ball go into the net but the offside flag was up immediately. A full blooded left-footed drive from Popoola looked goal bound but was blocked before loud shouts for a dramatic penalty decision at the death from the home bench after Matthew-Lewis, referee Mr Ellsmore said nothing doing and United’s unbeaten league run stretched to five.
Tudors: Johnson, Adenola, Dowrich, Ajayi, Williams, Matthews-Lewis, White, Wilkinson, Wiltshire, Achuba, Bateson. Substitutes: Rowan, Thompson, Azeez, Holden, Vilhete, Cook-Appiah, Boateng.
Magpies: Van Stappershoef, Bartley, Ragguette, Headman, Yearwood, Robinson, Umerah, Dulson, Cochrane (sub Mitchell-Lawson '61), Popoola, Onariase. Substitutes (not used): Collins, Welch-Hayes, Andrews, Pritchard, Clerima, Barratt.
Attendance: 551.
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