Two points dropped (25.10.03)

WINNING a point away from home and keeping a clean sheet is quite often regarded as a good result, but the Magpies certainly did enough in this game to have secured all three points.
Manager John Dreyer would have mixed feelings, being highly delighted with the defence with Brian Connor, Steve Sanders, Brendan Gallen and, in particular, Andy Jennings in tremendous form, but less than enamoured with the attack, who created and then wasted a number of good scoring opportunities.
Northwood, contained former Magpies Luke Evans and Chris Elsegood, but not the recently-signed Steven Hale who did not play as part of an agreement between the clubs at the time of transfer.
With just 10 minutes gone, a sharp move saw Phil Gray play a superb pass wide to Craig Farley and his cross was met by Lawrence Yaku who lifted the ball just over.
Two minutes later, the defence seemed to have slipped up when Knight turned in Metcalffe’s cross, but Maidenhead’s blushes were saved as the goal was ruled to be off-side.
After this play became very stagnant as the match deteriorated into a rather bad tempered affair, with the referee’s whistle constantly interrupting play.
Northwood came close to opening the scoring on the half hour when Dave Nolan’s corner caused panic at the back, but Sanders was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
The Magpies’ best chance of the half came in injury-time, when Mark Boyce was brought down on the edge of the box.
Ryan Ashe, Martyn Lee and Gray gathered around the ball, with the latter taking responsibility, but agonisingly watched his firm shot blocked on the line.
Both sides seemed to give up the idea of kicking each other in the second period, and to try to play football instead, which led to a more enjoyable 45 minutes. The attacking strategies were oh-so different though, with Maidenhead passing the ball about to create opportunities, whilst Northwood relied on a more direct long ball game.
The home side’s tactics simply became meat and drink to the Magpies defence, who soaked up everything sent at them.
At the other end of the field, the Northwood defence were hard pressed to repel the Magpies, but although breaking though on a number of occasions, they were regularly guilty of being off target.
Just on the hour mark, former Northwood favourite and record scorer Yaku broke clear and sent in a hard shot on target.
Bullivant could only parry the ball to the feet of Ashe who turned the ball home, only to be flagged off-side.
After this Gray had two good chances which went inches over and wide, and Farley went just wide picking up the rebound from another Bullivant save from Yaku.
Gallen hit a free-kick just wide following a foul on Yaku, and from another free-kick, Ashe found Gallen who forced another decent save.
Much against the run of play, Northwood came very close to scoring 12 minutes from time when, for once, the Magpies defence were caught out at the back.
Sargent knocked in a decent cross to Yeoman, who cleverly set up Kieran Knight.
The striker hit a superb shot that looked goal bound, but Phil Wilson produced an even better flying save to turn the ball wide.
The last 10n minutes were played out at a bit of a reduced pace, as it seemed that both sides had decided to settle for a share of the points.