United undone by worthy Worthing (03.01.04)

THE Magpies reserved their worst performance of the season for their trip to the south coast for this Bryco Cup clash against Worthing on Saturday.
The home side fully deserved the victory which gives them a place in the last 16, and the defeat for the visitors was even more galling as Worthing rested most of their first choice team.
Right from the start, United employed a long, high ball tactic and as Worthing had a back four of giants, including a dead ringer for Liverpool’s Sammy Hyppia, the result was inevitable.
Worthing decided to run and chase everything, led by the very pacey Ben Carrington, but really failed to find a telling final pass and the Magpies defence coped easily.
When the home side did break through, Nick Hart had to make a couple of competent saves. And so the game continued, with Maidenhead failing to make any inroads, and Worthing working hard but with little success.
The first real scoring opportunity of the game did not arrive until 10 minutes before the break when, for once, Maidenhead managed to get a ball between defenders, courtesy of Steve Hale, for Lawrence Yaku to run on to.  Yaku was so surprised that he failed to give the keeper any work to do as he lifted the ball tamely over the bar.
The closest Worthing came to scoring was when Darren Freeman sent in a snap shot from the edge of the box, which went inches wide with Hart totally helpless.
The travelling fans were hoping for a complete change in tactics in the second half, as it was obvious the long ball game was simply a waste of time, and things looked really positive with just two minutes gone.
A low cross from Craig Farley went towards Davies, but he completely miscued his clearance and the ball travelled neatly into Hale’s path. A well struck shot was matched by a superb diving save from Packham.
After that, though, the Magpies returned to using the long ball.
The home side upped the pace and started causing a lot of problems for the Magpies’ defence, and Hart was forced into a couple of top class saves.
However the inevitable came about on 63 minutes, when a corner was headed out and Ryan Ashe somehow contrived to give the ball back to Lopez rather than clearing the danger. A good deep cross to the far post found Pulling in acres of space and he headed home.
By now, Worthing were rampant and the Magpies were totally on the back foot. Hart again kept his side in the game with a good save from Freeman, who was causing all sorts of problems.
The final nail in the coffin came seven minutes from time, when substitute Mark Knee won the ball 30 yards out and, seeing Hart well off his line, neatly chipped the ball into an empty net.