Down with a whimper (15.04.06)

NEEDING to win to maintain their slim theoretical chance of avoiding the drop, the Magpies never got off the ground in this dullest of encounters with high-flying Lewes on Saturday.
A woeful pitch at York Road, which made controlling and passing the ball a lottery, did not assist a contest which saw few chances and even fewer highlights.
With both sides using off-side traps and playing very narrow, one goal always seemed likely to win it.
Lewes came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, when a couple of crosses forced Magpies keeper Francisco Ramos to pull off some good saves.
At the other end, the Magpies’ frustration at the repeated sight of the assistant referee’s flag was summed up when striker Neville Roach was booked for dissent just before the break.
Lewes came out stronger and more purposeful in the second half with man of the match Kirk Watts almost opening the scoring in the 52nd minute when his shot from a tight angle was foiled by Ramos.
Three minutes later, Watts, who finally started to find some space on the flanks, turned provider when his pinpoint cross from the left wing was met by a firm header from Paul Kennett which hit the back of the net and proved to be the only difference between the two teams.
Despite bringing on more attackers and shuffling their pack, an out-of-sorts Magpies were unable to penetrate the Lewes defence and the only clean pair of heels on show were those of a streaker, who livened up a dour game with five minutes remaining.

HEADS, KNEES AND TOES: Magpies’ full-back Steve Dell takes evasive action as Lewes’s Paul Kennett clears the ball on Saturday. Ref:92479/5

Maidenhead United: Ramos, Dell (for Kwakye, 63), Parsons, Johnson, Wild, Lewington (for Graham, 63), Kelly, Ashe (for Whiteman, 84), Roach, Bradshaw, Badu. Unused sub: Stevenson.
Lewes: Wilkerson, Hooper, Lovett, Kennett, Robinson, Legge, Harkin, Gomis, Cade (for D’Sane, 73), Sigere (for Farrell, 73), Watts. Unused subs: Sangare, Omoyimni, France.