HAVING vaunted the goal-scoring potential of his team it was rather ironic that John Dreyer's first match in charge ended 0-0.
In reality though this was a game that very nearly produced a hatful of goals, but for poor finishing and inspired goalkeeping.
The Swifts started brightly, inspired from midfield from former Ipswich Town stalwart Micky Stockwell, and nearly gave new manager Mark Hawkes a dream start when the ball was slipped through to striker Kevin Budge, only for United's keeper Phil Wilson to deny him with a fine save.
On 16 minutes, former Colchester defender Darryl Bourgeois crept in at the far post unmarked and his acrobatic volley was cleared off the line by Steve Sanders.
Six minutes later Budge was again denied by Wilson, who used all of his 6ft 5in frame to block another goal-bound shot.
United gradually came into the game with Martyn Lee and Martyn Williams using the ball effectively in midfield.
On 32 minutes the visitors came closest to scoring, when a ball down the line from Craig Farley found Lee, whose quick cross into the box was met by Michael Currie, but the former Hayes striker saw the ball hit the upright and bounce to safety.
Farley also had a chance but placed his shot narrowly over the bar.
Shortly before half-time central defender Rick Geraughty was stretchered off and replaced by Gareth Paxton.
The second half saw United in the ascendancy but they could not capitalise on chances.
The Swifts giant goalkeeper Darren Placid pulled off a string of excellent saves, including three one-on-ones – two to deny Lawrence Yaku and one from Rob Cruse, who had crept in down the left unmarked. On 80 minutes, Currie beat his defender and looked to have gone round Placid but the keeper managed to get a hand to the ball to deny the United striker a certain goal.
As the clock ticked down to full-time Yaku had another great chance to steal the points for the visitors.
The goal-getter beat two defenders near the line and it only needed a short pull-back to Cruse who had the goal at his mercy, but Yaku went for goal and Placid's giant legs were enough to prevent last season's top-scorer from opening his tally for this season.
At the other end, Swifts had a couple of half-chances but both Chris Keeble and Andy Tomlinson fired wide from good positions.
Late on the travelling Magpies had a chance to see their new manager on the pitch, when Adam Durrant suffered an injury and the 39-year-old was forced to come off the bench to replace him.
All in all a good start for United but they know that at this level you rarely get away with missing so many good chances in one game.

Heybridge Swifts: Placid, Keeble, Hadrava, Kersey, Bourgeois, Pollard, Tomlinson, Stockwell, Opara, Budge, Window. Subs: Gillespie, Bruce, Cousins, Daly, Robinson
Maidenhead United: Wilson, Sanders, Connor, Williams, Durrant, Geraughty, Cruse, Farley, Yaku, Lee, Currie. Subs: Obe, Paxton, Dreyer, Gray, Hart.