Magpies slaughter Robins (12.02.05)

THE Magpies broke 90 minutes of tedious football with two goals either side of the break to snatch an important home victory over rivals Carshalton Athletic.
It was a curious contest with little positive football or goalmouth action, and yet it finished in a conclusive and well deserved victory for the Magpies.
From a ponderous start, the hosts certainly grew in stature as the match progressed, while the visitors were bottled-up for the majority of the match, apart from two noteworthy efforts.
It was actually Carshalton who produced the first goal-scoring chance, when from a corner the ball was flicked onto the bar and rebounded back only for two attackers to both miss the target from close range with their efforts.
The Magpies shrugged off this defensive breach and replied with goals on 36 and 39 minutes.
Dean Clark opened proceedings when, from a direct approach, he got on the end of Ben Townsend’s cross and glanced his header home with the keeper flapping at thin air.
From their next attack the Magpies made it 2-0 when Lawrence Yaku held the ball up for Craig O’Connor, whose fiercely struck shot was parried onto the bar. However, the rebound fell kindly for Barrie Matthews, who nodded into an empty net from six yards.
The half ended with the visitors having the ball in the back of the net, only for it to be ruled out because of an off-side flag, despite a Maidenhead defender being on the line next to keeper Adam Federici.
If the fans were bemused at how the Magpies were two up, they were soon delighting in a 4-0 scoreline, with two goals in a minute on the hour mark.
The first goal of the half came from a defensive howler by Mark Costello, who allowed a route-one kick from Federici to sail over his head into the path of Yaku, who slipped the ball home at the second attempt, after a one-on-one with the Carshalton keeper Stuart Searle.
Then, seconds later, and three minutes before he was substituted, Clark rounded off the scoring when a cross from Lewis Cook was allowed to drift into the area by the still dazed Carshalton defence, and the big No.7 toe-poked it in from 12 yards.
With the game now dead and buried as a contest, it reverted back to its original tedious nature.
The only action of note saw Searle produce a fantastic point-blank save with his feet on the goalline from a Yaku header from all of five yards.
However, for once, missed opportunities were not the issue for the Magpies, who had found the back of the net with the chances they created, and shutout a Carshalton team who must have been glad to hear the final whistle on what was a bad day at the office.

BROTHERS IN ARMS: Chris Elsegood (right) congratulates Barrie Matthews on his goal. Ref:87932/7