Zippy Magpies go into overdrive (21.01.06)

THE Magpies produced their most confident and fluent performance of the season to overwhelm third-placed Havant at York Road on Saturday.
With defenders Nathan Bunce and Steve Dell impressive, and Joe Bruce sitting just in front of the defence, the Magpies looked solid at the back enabling them to counter quickly.
The pace of Dean Bradshaw and Mark Graham down the flanks was crucial, and something Havant could not counter.
Add to this an excellent solo performance up front from sole striker Stephen Hughes, and the Magpies looked organised and threatening.
It was pace which was key to the victory.
Speed when breaking, speed of thought as set pieces were taken quickly to unsettle Havant, and the generally high tempo ensured Havant were not allowed to settle, apart from a 15 minute spell in the second half.
The hosts started fluently, eventually turning chances into goals and finishing comfortable winners.
After both Graham and Ashe should have done better with headers when well placed, and Hughes scuffed a shot wide, the Magpies took the lead when a free-kick in midfield was quickly taken by Matt Glynn to Hughes who left his markers flat-footed to drill the ball home on 34 minutes.
A lacklustre Havant team created half-chances but never forced Scott Tarr into a save, and just three minutes into the second half they found themselves deservedly two goals down.
Bounding with confidence now, a quickly taken throw-in by the Magpies’ Dell to Ashe saw his shot well saved by the boot of keeper Gareth Howells, but the rebound fell nicely for Bradshaw who tapped in from close range.
Ironically, this goal inspired Havant to have a go themselves and they enjoyed the momentum now, and it was not long before the pressure paid off.
Dell cleared the ball off the line after a shot from Taggart but seconds later the full-back collided with his own keeper, leaving striker Rocky Baptiste with an empty net to aim at – a despairing lunge from Glynn only serving to help the ball into the net.
Although Havant now looked dangerous for the first time all afternoon, they were leaving themselves short of numbers at the back.
An intelligent substitution brought on the fresh, attacking legs of Nana Badu and Yashwa Romeo, ensuring the the Magpies did not sit back, but instead looked to kill-off the game.
In due course this happened when, on 90 minutes, Badu battled bravely to win the ball and released Romeo who set up Hughes. The big No.9 capped a fine match by slipping the ball in from 12 yards.
The slick move and quality finishing highlighted all which was good about the Magpies on the day.

SOCIAL CLIMBER: Magpies’ Chris Wild makes his presence felt at York Road on Saturday. Picture by Nigel Keene.

Maidenhead United: Tarr, Dell, Parsons, Bunce, Wild, Bruce, Graham, Ashe, Hughes, Glynn, Bradshaw. Subs: Badu (for Bradshaw, 75), Romeo (for Graham, 75), Lewington, White and Whiteman (not used).
Havant & Waterlooville: Howells, Pethick, Simpson, Collins, Jordann, Sharp, Lopez-Dacruz, Saunders, Wilson-Denis, Baptiste, Taggart. Subs: Byles (for Simpson, 56), Fowler (for Pethick, 56), Harrison (for Jordann, 84), Pearce and Poate (not used).