IT WAS business as usual at York Road on Tuesday night, as the Magpies threw away a two-goal advantage to run out 3-2 losers to lowly Bishop’s Stortford.
Anyone who watched United’s draw at title favourites Aldershot Town two week’s ago, or their 4-1 annihilation of Grays Athletic the week before, might struggle to understand this bemusing result.
However, the simple truth is, United raise or lower the standard of their play to match that of their opponents, a fact which was highlighted by the nature of Tuesday night’s defeat.
Unsure of what to expect from their guests, United began the game on the front foot and completely dominated a clearly inferior side. With just 10 minutes played, Lee Channell could have had a hat-trick, as three chances went begging, the latter consisting of a free shot on goal, which he pushed well wide of the upright.
However, man of the match (again) Andy Cook gave United the lead they deserved on 18 minutes, when he poked the ball inside the near post with a first-time shot from Ryan Ashe’s driven free-kick.
Cook struck again five minutes later, when he nodded a long goal-kick down for Lawrence Yaku, charged into the box for the return ball and rifled it into the back of the net.
That should have been that, however, as United eased off, Bishop’s Stortford promptly pulled a goal back, albeit in the strangest of circumstances.
The trouble began when United conceded a corner, which led to a tangle on the line involving Richard Barnard and Victor Renner.
Every man and his dog anticipated a free-kick to United, but the referee stunned the crowd and the players – including Bishop’s Stortford’s – by awarding a penalty, which Glen Southam dispatched well.
United were still in the driving seat and only needed to keep a clean sheet until the interval.
Unfortunately, they could not manage it, conceding the softest of goals in added time, when the unmarked and almost certainly offside Richard Howell scuffed the ball over the line from a late free-kick.
After the break, the visitors came out with their tails up and deservedly took the lead on 58 minutes through substitute Tim Langer, who finished in style from the tightest of angles, following good work from Rob Gould.
Maidenhead tried to fight back, but once again lacked the imagination or determination to penetrate a pretty ordinary looking defence.
Perhaps the best chance of the half fell to the referee, who was given an opportunity to atone for his earlier mistake when Ashe was dragged to the ground inside Stortford’s box.
But the man in black just waved play on, while United waved goodbye to a share of the points.

Maidenhead United: Barnard, Boyce, Connor, Cook, Durrant, Jeffrey, Ashe, Yaku, Channell, Kelly, Morley. Subs: Ulasi (for Channell, 87), Adeoye (for Morley, 72), Coppard, Elsegood, Webster (for Cook, 60).
Bishop’s Stortford: Desborough, Kyriacou, Gwillim, Gould, Riches, Southam, Howell, French, Renner, Rainford, Williamson. Subs: Aransibia (for Renner, 93), Paul, Langer (for Howell, 50), Wolf, O’Neil.