IT TOOK Maidenhead United 45 minutes to get going on Saturday, although they finally got the New Year off to a satisfactory start with a 2-1 home win over Bedford Town.
Perhaps the players were simply struggling to shake off their post-party hang-overs, but it was scant excuse for failing to contain a side which is languishing in the Premier basement.
And the danger signs were evident in the opening exchanges, as the Magpies displayed an obvious lack of match practice with some very sloppy passing.
Andy Morley was the first offender, when he broke down the right in only the third minute and had the simplest of chances to put Lee Channell clear at the near post.
However, he scuffed his cross along the floor, allowing Bedford to clear their lines and go on the counter attack.
It was a pattern which was to continue for much of the half, as Adrian Allen and Channell squandered a hatful of scoring opportunities.
At the other end, a vintage performance from Obinna Ulasi was keeping the dangerous Bedford No.3 Rob Miller at bay, but the defence looked exposed at set pieces and finally leaked a goal in the 14th minute.
Paul Kelly initially appeared to have cleared the danger after Steve Berry had swung in a free-kick from wide on the right.
However, Bedford quickly recycled the ball back down the right wing and the resulting cross found its way to the near post.
Two defenders and the keeper went to deal with it, but the ball was simply knocked down to the unmarked Kevin Slinn, who placed his shot past the diving Richard Barnard.
United failed to respond and then made matters worse by dropping back into defence and surrendering the midfield.
However, after 31 torrid minutes, they finally showed some signs of life, with man of the match Barry Rake and fellow playmaker Rob Saunders leading the fight-back.
After the break, the Magpies poured into attack and Bedford’s previously impenetrable defence simply disintegrated.
After five minutes of relentless pressure, Saunders pulled United level with a deftly placed shot into the top right-hand corner.
A minute later, Ulasi ran half the length of the pitch, only to be denied by Jamie Heeps’ reaction save, and 30 seconds later Rake saw his powerful strike palmed away for a corner.
Bedford were hanging on by the skin of their teeth, but gradually regrouped and fought their way back into the game.
However, on 68 minutes they were dealt a killer blow, when Rob Saunders hit a perfectly weighted diagonal ball to put Rake through on goal.
Rake took the ball wide and, as the keeper threw himself at the ball, he tumbled to the floor.
There did not appear to have been much contact but the referee pointed to the spot and – when Bedford’s protests had finally died down – Cook almost broke the net with a fierce drive down the middle.
A flurry of substitutions followed, but there was no way back for the visitors and, despite a late chance for No.10 Mark Paul, Maidenhead were good for all three points.

Teams
Maidenhead United: Barnard, Morley, Rake, Kelly, Jarvis, Jeffrey, Cook, Allen, Channell, Saunders, Ulasi. Subs: Ibe (for Allen, 82), Rose (for Channell, 89), Levene (for Saunders, 81).
Bedford Town: Heeps, Harvey, Miller, Wilson, Jackman, Turner, O’FLynn, Berry, Slinn, Paul, Edge. Subs: Tucker (for Harvey, 62), McNamara (for O’Flynn, 81), Zumrutel (for Miller 82).