Magpies score all four goals in draw (15.04.03)

THE Magpies went into this game on Tuesday believing that a point would be a good result against a side challenging for a top five finish.
By the end of the 90 minutes the Magpies were ruing two defensive howlers which effectively meant that United scored all four goals on the night.
They travelled to Sutton with a depleted squad missing Lee Channell, Ryan Ashe, Dean Coppard, Joe Nartey and Brian Connor, who cried off ill.
This meant that young reserve defender Matt Sealey was called up on to the bench as was David Harrison.
The pitch at Gander Green Lane had been watered, which made for a more attractive game than has been seen of late, and it particularly suited Maidenhead's quick passing style.
Andy Cook came close to giving United a lead with a header that just went over . S
Six minutes later Adrian Allen sent a shot well wide after ghosting in unmarked at the far post. The visitors took the lead on 39 minutes when Richard O'Connor, returning from injury, sent in a brilliant 30-yard free-kick which gave Tom Dunn in the Sutton net no chance.
Almost from the re-start Sutton nearly equalised.
The ball was played across the face of Barnard's goal where it found an unmarked Mark Watson, but he hit a low shot that hit the upright. It fell invitingly to Eddie Akuamoah but he headed tamely over.
The second half proved to be a livelier affair and on 59 minutes Sutton levelled.
Corbett fired in a free-kick that did not seem too menacing but Orlando Jeffrey, perhaps expecting his goalkeeper to come for the ball, headed neatly into the bottom corner of his own net.
Two minutes later Sutton nearly took the lead.
Again poor defending allowed the dangerous Watson to get clear on goal but his shot went a whisker wide of the far upright.
On 64 minutes the visitors regained the lead. Although his goals have dried up, his work rate has not, and Lawrence Yaku had a big part in the goal.
United were under pressure but a 10 yard pass from Cook found Yaku just inside his own half.
He ran 30 yards shrugging off the challenges of two defenders before slipping an inch perfect pass to the unmarked and speeding Adrian Allen.
The United striker raced onto the ball and coolly slotted the ball past Dunn.
Five minutes later Sutton should have equalised when Nicky Bailey shot just over when well placed.
After this escape the Magpies should have extended their lead on 79 minutes.
Again it was Yaku causing problems for the home defence down the left side, and again he slipped a pass through, but this time to substitute Matt Glynn who was clear on goal. Dunn was not going to be beaten a second time and came off his line to block Glynn's shot.
The visitors appeared to be quite capable of holding onto a surprise three points when disaster struck with just two minutes left. Nicky Bailey's fierce shot cannoned off the bar and upwards.
As the ball dropped down it seemed a formality for Barnard to punch over for a corner, but under pressure from Hanlon he somehow allowed the ball to drop under the bar and he punched it into his own net.
A draw was probably a fair result, but United will feel yet again a good overall performance was not rewarded sufficiently and glaring errors were again their enemy.

Maidenhead United: Barnard, Webster, Ulasi, Cook, Durrant, Jeffrey, O'Connor, Yaku, Allen, Kelly, Morley. Subs used: Glynn
Sutton United: Dunn, Brooker, Hamlin, Palmer, Hodges, Bailey, Bolt, Corbett, Gray, Watson, Akuamoah. Subs used: Beale, Hanlon.