THE undoubted individual talents of Maidenhead United were overwhelmed by an impressive team performance at York Road on Tuesday night, as John Dreyer's men sank to a 4-0 defeat to the mighty Ks.
After a fairly even opening period, United appeared to be getting the upper hand, with the hard working Martyn Lee setting up half-chances for both Lawrence Yaku and Michael Currie.
Unfortunately, just as the Kingstonian defence began to creak, Kelvin McIntosh was caught dwelling on the ball in midfield and was quickly robbed by the impressive Mark Beard.
Cutting inside, the former Sheffield United star exchanged passes with Grant Payne, before bursting into the box and sliding the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.
The Magpies quickly rallied and might have got back on level terms, if Currie's close range drive from a tight angle had just sneaked the other side of the post. But, as the half progressed, Kingstonian continued to grow in strength, with Beard an ever present threat.
On 37 minutes, the dynamic midfielder fired inches over United’s bar, following another delightful interchange at the edge of the box, this time with Craig Lewington.
However, the tide really turned against United when former Aldershot striker Stafford Browne began to find his touch, drawing two good saves from Phil Wilson and sending a fierce strike just wide of the upright in two frantic minutes shortly before the break.
Two late free-kicks gave United a chance to go in to the turn on level terms, but Martin Williams’ effort was easily saved, while Lee’s vicious strike ricocheted harmlessly back off the wall.
Three minutes after the restart it was all over, when Beard split the defence and dinked the ball over the onrushing keeper.
The introduction of Ryan Ashe into United’s midfield did offer a brief glimmer of hope, with his energy and industry creating half-chances for Williams and Steve Sanders, the latter heading just wide of the post from Ashe’s pin-point cross.
Unfortunately, United’s determination to pull one back had left them woefully exposed at the back, allowing Liam Collins to nip in and slip the ball past the rooted keeper on 61 minutes to make it 3-0
Even the introduction of Northern Ireland international Phil Gray failed to make an impression, as Kingstonian continued to defend and attack as a unit, giving United no chance.
Devoid of ideas and running out of steam, the Magpies still had to suffer one last ignominy, when Browne pounced on another defensive error and coolly steered the ball home to seal a superb display of team football.

Maidenhead United: Wilson, sanders, Connor, Williams, McIntosh, Paxton, Cruse, Farley, Yaku, Lee, Currie. Subs: Obe (for Currie, 78), Ashe (for Cruse, 54), Gray (for Yaku, 65), Dreyer, Hart.
Kingstonian: Key, Broad, Smith, Elverson, Hustwick, Beard, Lewington, Collins, Browne, Payne, Alimi. Subs: Nurse, T Jones, Mead (for Beard, 77), M Jones (for Hustwick, 72), Davis (for Collins, 78).