Lee stars in curtain-raiser (26.07.03)

MAIDENHEAD United hardly broke sweat as they eased past Ware on Saturday, in a very comfortable 4-2 win at York Road.
A much improved Mark Boyce got the Magpies off to a flying start in just the third minute of play, when he skipped in from the right wing and flashed a low shot across the face of goal, looking for a deflection, which it duly received.
Unfortunately, United were far less composed at the other end, where Brian Connor and Adam Durrant were taking their first, fledgling steps towards life in a flat back four.
Keen to exploit any weaknesses, the Ware No.7 promptly sprung United’s slightly suspect offside trap and dinked the ball over the advancing keeper to level the scores.
Parity did not last long, however, as United’s midfield began confidently stroking the ball around, with former Wycombe midfielder Martyn Lee looking a class apart at the heart of the action.
With the Ware defence at sixes and sevens, new front runner Martin Williams took the opportunity to put Lawrence Yaku clean through, who obliged with a very tidy finish.
At this point it looked as though United could score at will, which they did, making it 3-1 on 21 minutes, as Boyce’s goalbound shot took a kindly deflection into the top corner.
Totally against the run of play, Ware bagged one back on 28 minutes, thanks to another defensive mix-up.
However, the visitors failed to threaten again, reducing half-time substitute Nick Hart to an enthusistic spectator in United’s goal.
Half-a-dozen other changes ruined the home side’s shape after the restart, but Lee was still the class act, sweeping home a majestic 40-yard free-kick on the hour to seal the win.
In summary, there were pluses and minuses to this performance, but no one can doubt manager John Dreyer’s ability to bring quality players to the club, evidenced by very strong debuts for left and right-backs Brendan Gallen and Steve Sanders, midfielders Kelvin McIntosh and Martyn Lee, and new front runner Martin Williams.
There were also promising returns to form for Mark Boyce, Dominic Polisano and Lawrence Yaku, while the new central defensive pairing of Durrant and Connor was certainly beginning to gel by the end of the game, and will no doubt solidify over the next few weeks.
The only unknown quantity is new keeper Phil Wilson, who carried no blame for either goal and had little to do, other than pick the ball out of the net.

FANCY FOOTWORK: Martyn Lee falls foul of a bewildered Ware defender. Ref:82355/18.

Maidenhead United: Wilson, Sanders, Gallen, Connor, Durrant, McIntosh, Boyce, Polisano, Yaku, Lee, Williams. Subs: Many and often.