Mixed blessings (05.08.05)

MAIDENHEAD United manager Dennis Greene was left counting his blessings this week, despite them being rather mixed.
New signing Robert Traynor and former youth team player James Partridge both scored in a 2-0 friendly win over Holyport at York Road on Saturday, the latter sealing his place in the squad for the start of the season.
Greene said of his young protege: “He’s made the transition from the youth squad to the first team.
“He’s raw, but he’s hungry, and he’s played his way into the squad.
“His next step is to get a starting position, but he’ll definitely be in the 15 for the start of the season.
“He’s been fantastic to work with.”
However, there was little to celebrate on Wednesday night, as the Magpies slumped to a 4-0 defeat at home to Alan Devonshire’s Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Former York Road favourite Lawrence Yaku was on the scoresheet, along with new team-mates Luke Fontana and Henry Hayden.
The fourth came courtesy of a spectacular own-goal from Brian Connor, with a superb backward header into the top corner from a long-range free-kick.
Greene said: “It’s a difficult one to explain.
“At half-time we were 2-0 down, but we’d gifted them one goal from a sloppy back pass, and the other came from a one-on-one.
“Otherwise the keeper didn’t really have a save to make. We had two good chances and missed them, so it could have been 2-2 at the break.
“For the second half I put on six trialists and then we were definitely weaker than them, although their fourth goal was about five yards offside.”
Despite his dismay at the magnitude of the defeat, Greene remained remarkably philosophical, adding: “It’s probably a blessing in disguise. That scoreline should give the players a kick up the backside.
“If we hadn’t lost last night everyone would be saying Maidenhead are looking good, but because we lost people say we’re rubbish.
“It was only a friendly. It was a competitive friendly and we came off second best
“But we haven’t lost any points, and if these friendlies were league games we’d be top of the table with 12 points from 15.
“It was just one of those days, and we have 10 days to put it right.”

Tomorrow (Saturday), the Magpies make the short trip to Stag Meadow to take on Windsor & Eton.
With many former Royalists, including Greene himself, now residing at York Road, the game promises to be a hard-fought derby.
Greene said: “I know the players at Windsor.
“They have some good experienced players there and it should be a competitive game.
“That’s good. It will get us ready for the league.”
Greene has also added a new friendly to the pre-season fixtures, an away game at Boreham Wood on Sunday, kick-off 1pm.
United’s final pre-season friendly is against old foes Slough Town at York Road on Tuesday.
This local derby is often a fiery affair, but the Rebels will be hoping it remains a true friendly, after their game with Uxbridge on Saturday was abandoned following a mass brawl.
Two Slough players were reported injured in the incident, comprising striker Ian Hodges, who United had hoped to sign for the coming season, and new signing Andy Ballard.
Greene said: “It’s another good warm-up for the league. Because of the local rivalry they will play their best side.”
The Magpies’ league season kicks-off the following week with a trip to Sutton United.