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Two
second half goals from Dale Binns made sure of a
comfortable win at Bognor which pushed Maidenhead up to the heady heights
of a play off place.
United,
unbeaten since April Fools Day, earned their win on the back of an
accomplished first half performance, however the result may have been
somewhat different if the Rocks had taken an early chance. This provided the first noteworthy
incident of the game when in the ninth minute Joe Gatting
ran clear of the Maidenhead defence, but with only goalkeeper Shane Gore to
beat, Gatting put his shot wide of the post. From this point on it was one way traffic in Maidenhead’s favour, the
Magpies setting up camp in Bognor’s half for the remainder of the
first period. For all their
domination of play though, chances were few and far between for United, and
only one goal derived from open play. This came in the 27th minute when Ashley
Smith linked up well with Jack Bradshaw on the right wing. Bradshaw, making his first start of the
season in favour of the injured Tyron Smith, whipped in a perfect cross
into the centre of the penalty area where Richard Pacquette
rose highest to head Maidenhead in front. Two minutes later Lee Newman almost
doubled the lead, forcing some desperate defending from Bognor to deny him
from close range. Newman did get on
the scoresheet before half time, converting a forty
first minute penalty after Ashley Nicholls had been fouled on the edge of
the box.
After
the break, complacency seemed to creep into the Maidenhead ranks. With the Magpies resting on their laurels,
Bognor took the opportunity to force their way back into the game with some
earnest endeavour which reaped a reward when Zak Burke pounced on a stray
back pass to half the deficit just short of the hour mark. Although Dale Binns
restored the two goal lead after seventy minutes, when his cross from the
left found the net via a Bognor defender, the home team were playing with a
confidence which suggested they could still take something from the game. This was confirmed when Paul Watson scored
the Rocks’ second from the penalty spot with seventeen minutes to go,
and but for a great save at full stretch by Gore from Gatting
two minutes later an exciting finish could have ensued. Instead it was Binns
again who finished off any hopes of a Rocks revival with twelve minutes remaining;
thanks in part to a tactical switch which saw him and Smith swap flanks. Thus it was Smith who crossed from the
left to Binns at the far post, the winger heading
home to seal United’s third win in four outings this season. As time ticked away Pacquette
almost gave Maidenhead the perfect finish only for his shot to hit the post.
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Rocks:
Behcet, Hinshelwood, Watson, Harris (76 Balderson), Jupp, Waterman, Jackson, Smith, Gatting, Beck (34 Burke), Dutton-Black.
Unused
subs: Pearce, Hill, Whiskey.
Goals:
Burk 59, Watson 73 pen. Cautions:
Watson 28, Jupp 36.
Magpies:
Gore, Bradshaw, Bernard, Hinds, Sterling,
Surey Smith A (82 Behzadi),
Nicholls, Pacquette, Newman (79 Tyriaki), Binns (79 Fyfield).
Unused
subs: James, Carter.
Goals:
Pacquette 27, Newman 41 pen, Binns
70 & 78
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