Boyce delivers first victory (09.09.03)

A FIFTH minute strike from Mark Boyce was enough to give the Magpies their first win of the season and in the process swop places at the bottom of the division with Harrow Borough.
Under the new floodlights at York Road, the Magpies made a bright start with the goal and a good penalty appeal turned down.
However the second goal never came and as the match wore on, it was Harrow who seemed the most likely to find the back of the net.
Only several saves from keeper Nick Hart, and two goalline clearances, spared the home side’s blushes.
Although this was hardly a classic performance against a workmanlike outfit, a win is a win and all the more precious when it has taken eight matches to break the duck.
The Magpies lined-up with both assistant manager Phil Gray and manager John Dreyer in their starting 11.
Boyce was in for his first start of the season after an injury lay-off and it was the latter two who combined to give the hosts their dream opening.
A loose ball in midfield was swept forward first time by Dreyer into ‘the hole’ for someone to run onto.
In this instance it was Boyce, who ran with the ball for 30 yards before firing low and firm past the right hand of diving Borough keeper David Hook.
Ten minutes later and Boyce appeared to be bundled to the ground inside the box, but the referee ignored the penalty shouts as the match settled into a somewhat tedious stalemate.
Lawrence Yaku and Gray were combining well up front, but the former is lacking confidence in front of goal at present and never looked like scoring.
Gray had a chance before the break, but his snapshot was scuffed well wide.
With Brian Connor and Andrew Jennings coping comfortably with Borough strikers, the Magpies enjoyed the majority of the possession, although chances were thin on the ground.
Three chances inside the first 15 minutes of the second half – from Martyn Lee, Steve Sanders and Kelvin McIntosh – gave the home side the opportunity to bury their visitors.
But neither of these efforts found their mark, and the Magpies could have rued these missed chances as Borough came on strong in the final third of the match.
Hart, who had been a spectator until then, was forced to repel excellent efforts from substitute Darren Hay, Kevin McKenna and Robert Charles.
The excellent Brendan Gallen also headed off the line, and then somehow a combination of Sanders and Jennings managed to thwart Charles from point blank range.
Both defenders had to leave the field after this incident with injuries just to add to the uncertainty in front of Hart.
Despite all this the Magpies hung on for a much-needed confidence booster.

Maidenhead United: Hart, Sanders, Connor, McIntosh, Jennnings, Gallen, Boyce, Gray, Yaku, Lee, Dreyer. Subs: Farley (for Boyce, 79), Durrant (for Jennings, 90), Sanders (for Ashe, 90), Currie, Wilson (not used).
Harrow Borough: Hook, Valenti, Murphy, Elliott, Goddard, Norman, Walters, McKenna, Fitzsimin, Charles. Subs: Hay (for Fitzsimon, 53), Yoki (for Murphy, 70), Dyer (for Charles, 90), Lopez, Haule (not used).