Heybridge
(H) - 27/3/01|
Maidenhead
U (0) 1 |
Heybridge
(1) 3
Lee 45, 68, Caton 57 |
| MAIDENHEAD
United dropped to fourth from bottom in the Ryman League Premier
Division on Tuesday night when they were beaten 3-1 at home
by Essex side Heybridge Swifts. Having been drubbed 4-0 at Heybridge in August, their heaviest defeat of the season, the Magpies were looking for revenge. But Swifts proved they are a class outfit with another convincing victory, netting a killer goal on the stroke of half-time and then punishing United in the second half with an exemplary display of finishing, especially from top scorer Kris Lee. The home side did briefly threaten a comeback when on-loan striker Nathan Tyson grabbed his second goal in two games with 15 minutes still left on the clock. But Heybridge ran down the clock with relative ease to leave United still with major problems at the wrong end of the table. After two weeks without a game United were always going to find it hard to get into their stride after such a lay-off, and so it proved. The Magpies started well and defender Steve Croxford was unlucky to see his early header from a Paul Woodhouse corner go just over the bar. Heybridge eventually began to put their neat passing game together, and Lee flicked the ball through for Simon Parker, who burst into the box but saw his left-foot shot palmed away by in-form United keeper Richie Barnard. Chances were also coming at the other end. Magpies striker Lee Channell had a golden chance to add to his 16 goals so far this season, but under pressure fired over the bar from six yards after a Lewis Craker flick-on. Barnard continued his superb form of recent weeks with another string of fine saves as Heybridge increased the pressure. First he was in the right place at the right time to pluck a Parker header out of the air, and then he did well to parry away a low shot from Swifts midfielder Sean Caton. With half-time approaching, United boss Alan Devonshire, who recently extended his contract at the club until 2004, would have been happy with a goalless first half. However, a minute into injury-time a lack of concentration from United at the back cost them dearly. Mark Kane crossed from the right, and with the United defence asleep, Gary Waters nodded it back to the unmarked Lee, who had time to chest the ball down and calmly volley the ball past Barnard. Although a bitter blow, United still had a chance to get back into the game in the second half but in the 57th minute Heybridge extended their lead. A poor Tim Cook clearance fell to Caton 30 yards out, he took it past two United players and unleashed a blistering shot into the roof of the net which Barnard hardly saw. United continued to find it hard to break down a well-organised Heybridge defence, although Craker did see an effort cleared off the line. In fact, Heybridge extended their lead further with a classic counter-attack in the 68th minute. Croxford almost scored for United from a corner, but the ball was cleared up front to Parker who released Lee on the halfway line, he outpaced the chasing Tom Hickey, and showed exactly why he is so highly-regarded with a clinical finish in off the post. To the credit of the Magpies, they continued to push forward in search of an equaliser and they scored a deserved goal in the 76th minute, Tyson, making his home debut, stabbing home from six yards after Cook had fired a low shot into the box. Although Tyson was unlucky to be denied a penalty late on, Heybridge fully deserved their victory, a result which leaves United with much to ponder. |
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| Maidenhead
United: Barnard, Woodhouse, Craker, Rake, Croxford, Hickey,
Cook, Tyson, Channell, Glynn, Ulasi. Subs: Wiltshire (for Hickey,
73), Ferdinand (for Woodhouse, 73), Morley (for Ulasi, 45). Heybridge Swifts: Banks, Kreyling, Wiles, Streetly, Waters, Caton, Payne, Parker, Gillespie, Lee, Kane. Subs: Warwick (for Lee, 90), Wall (not used), Moss (for Streetly, 86). |
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