Goal drought ends in dramatic fashion

WHAT a difference a goal makes.
Following several weeks of distinctly iffy performances, Maidenhead United finally rediscovered some of their early season form on Saturday, to record an emphatic 3-0 win over Ford United.
Not that the full time scoreline tells the whole story, as the first half suggested another 0-0 draw was on the cards.
However, when Lawrence Yaku finally broke the deadlock, on 67 minutes, the Magpies underwent an amazing transformation, as all departments began firing on all four cylinders.
Even United’s impressive back three of Brian Connor, Chris Elsegood and Orlando Jeffrey – surely one of the best defenders in the league – had an added spring in their steps.
But it was up front where the biggest metamorphosis occurred, as Mark Nicholls, Yaku and Ibraheem Adeoye tore chunks out of Ford’s previously impenetrable back line.
Equally encouraging was the fact that United kept another clean sheet, and in doing so became the first side to contain the Motormen at Oakside.
The only shame was that so few people were there to witness it, as the official attendance of just 88 bears out.
However, they did not miss much in the first half, when neither side seemed prepared to push men forward, resulting in 45 minutes of frustration for the few fans who did make the journey to Essex.
The only events worth a mention were a disallowed goal for Ford, after six minutes, and Yaku’s distressingly poor finishing, as he twice found himself clean through on goal, only to roll the ball to the keeper or miss the target completely.
After the break the game continued in a similar fashion, with only Matt Glynn looking confident enough to take a pop at goal.
Unfortunately, the creative midfielder was lacking his usual deft touch and was repeatedly robbed of possession, much to his team-mates’ frustration.
However, the game was about to change course, largely thanks to Yaku’s strike partner Nicholls, who suddenly produced some of the silky skills expected of a former Chelsea regular.
Following a foul inside Maidenhead’s box, Richard Barnard pumped the ball forward to Nicholls, who flicked it through a static defence for Yaku to lash past the stranded keeper.
Ford replied with a determined spell of attacking football, but found United’s defence in no mood for compromise, as they repelled everything the hosts could throw at them.
And, as Ford pushed up in search of an equaliser, the Magpies began to pose an ever increasing threat on the break, which eventually paid off with a second goal for Yaku on 86 minutes.
Once again, Nicholls was the provider, but this time his touch was even more sublime, as he caught the ball on his chest before chipping it backwards over his shoulder for Yaku to fire home.
Having sealed the result, Yaku was immediately withdrawn from the action to be replaced by Adeoye, who made the most of the opportunity by scoring Maidenhead’s third, when he pounced on an under hit back-pass and lifted the ball over the keeper on 90 minutes.
Incredibly, United could have made it 4-0 in added time, albeit through a very unlikely source.
With the seconds counting down, Jeffrey intercepted the ball inside his own half and set off on an amazing late charge.
Pouring on the pace, he skipped through four tackles to reach Ford’s box, only to end the run with a true defender’s finish, which he rolled tamely into the relieved keeper’s arms.

Ford United: Harvey, Bailey, Kimble, Woodards, Bourgious, Fiddes, Buffong, Poole, Rocastle, Rose, Abraham. Subs: Willis (for Woodards, 79), Chapman, Thomas (for Rose, 64), Aransibia, Wood (for Buffong, 87).
Maidenhead United: Barnard, Rose, Connor, Cook, Jeffrey, Elsegood, Nicholls, Kelly, Yaku, Glynn, Morley. Subs: Keywood (for Nicholls, 90), Boyce, Adeoye (for Yaku, 87), Goss, Croxford.