United continue downward slide (04.03.05)

A BITTERLY disappointing draw with Hayes sent Maidenhead United sliding deeper into the relegation zone on Saturday.
With fixtures fast running out, some are now questioning the Magpies’ ability to beat the drop.
However, manager Dennis Greene attacked the doubters, claiming his side were playing well and just needed an even break.
He said: “We’ve had some misfortune in several games, but I’m still dead confident.
“St Albans, Havant and Margate have all had their runs and got themselves out of it.
“I believe if we keep performing the way we are, we’ll do the same.
“We have enough fixtures left against sides we can beat. And we probably only need another four wins to stay up.
“If we keep performing well we’ll get the two wins on the trot and we’ll be out of the bottom three.
“But we do need to get those results sooner rather than later.”
Greene cited Saturday’s clash with Hayes as an example of his side’s continuing good form, but claimed progress was being hampered by a continuing run of bad luck.
He said: “We battered them (Hayes) first half.
“We must have had 10 corners, and chance after chance went begging.
“Then they got a goal that shouldn’t have stood and we went in at half-time trailing 1-0.
“I thought ‘Here we go again’.
“We weren’t as good in the second half, but we were certainly better than Hayes and got the goal we deserved.”
Unfortunately, United could not produce a winner, meaning they shared the points and slid back into the bottom two in the table.
Greene said: “It is getting very frustrating, but we’re not holding up the division just yet.
“We just have to turn some of these draws into wins.
“If you look at the bottom 10 teams we have lost the least amount of games since I took over.
“But it’s the draws that are killing us. That’s our problem at the moment.
“But from a positive point of view it’s easier to turn draws into wins than defeats into wins.”

United travel to high-flying Cambridge City tomorrow (Saturday), weather permitting.
Greene said: “They’re a good side, but Basingstoke were a good side when we went there and won.
“It might be one of those games.
“We’re going there to try and get a result, whether that’s one point or three.”
Unfortunately, Andy Dugdale begins his three-match suspension tomorrow, while Ben Townsend is still doubtful, after breaking bones in his hand during training.
Greene added: “I’ve never known a club like this for injuries!”