Dev: We did not go for the jugular (07.03.03)

DESPITE producing one of their best performances of the season against Aldershot Town on Tuesday night, Maidenhead United came in for some harsh criticism from a highly unusual source.
Having conceded a freak goal, United went on to dominate the match, before deservedly grabbing a sensational equaliser in the ninth minute of injury-time through Andy Morley.
However, manager Alan Devonshire was less than pleased with the way his team had acquitted themselves
He said: “There were a few people who didn’t function as well as I thought they would. We were a bit scrappy and didn’t make the best of our opportunities.
“We got into good positions then complicated it when we should have gone for the jugular. We did okay, but we had been looking forward to that game for a while and I was hoping for a better performance.
“If you can’t get up for a game like that there’s something wrong with you.”
On a lighter note he did admit he was happy to have rescued a point at the death.
He added: “In the context of scoring in the last minute, you have to be happy with the result, but we could have done better.
“How many saves did their keeper have to make?”
One glaring miss on the night came from fleet-footed forward Adrian Allen, who blazed over the top from just eight yards out.
But Devonshire just said: “Sometimes they go in, sometimes over the bar.
“His better foot is his right, and he played a lot better in the second half.”
Interestingly, Devonshire seemed less upset about Saturday’s staggeringly frustrating draw with relegation favourites Hampton & Richmond.
He explained: “I can’t fault the boys on effort. We just over-complicated things in the last third of the pitch.
“We wanted to take too many touches and didn’t get quality balls in at the right times.”
There was also the excuse of a bizarre refereeing decision, as the man in black blew for full-time, when Hampton had clearly conceded a penalty.
Devonshire said: “I didn’t understand the referee’s decision at the end. The assessor said he couldn’t believe it
“It may have been full-time, but you give the penalty first.
“Referees’ decisions decide games and this is another one that went against us.”
There was also a world class save to explain away United’s inability to score, as Hampton’s Andy Iga pulled of a convincing impression of Gordon Banks.
Devonshire added: “It was similar. It was down low and he got across and scooped it up. It was a terrific save.”

United travel to Kingstonian tomorrow (Saturday), amid rumours of further problems for the Surrey side.
Having gone into administration last year, the Ks were set a series of financial goals to achieve by a specific date, which they have failed to do.
However, they played on Tuesday night against Hendon, so it seems to be business as usual at Kingsmeadow Stadium.
Devonshire said: “They’re going quite well at the moment and we had a hell of a game with them at our place.
“But we’re going into this one quietly confident.”
United have no midweek fixture.