Magpies on the Rocks (08.11.05)

IT WAS a dismal night on the south coast for Maidenhead United on Tuesday, as the Magpies suffered a humiliating 8-1 thrashing at Nyewood Lane.
The result sent fans scrabbling for the record books, and initial reports suggest the defeat is United’s worst since February, 1968, when they lost 8-0 at home to Wycombe in the Wycombe Floodlit League.
After a reasonably even opening period, the Rocks went 2-0 up within half an hour, with Luke Nightingale and Richard Hudson finding the back of the net.
Nightingale then scored his second from the spot, before Ben Watson rattled in goal No.4 just before the break.
In a vain attempt to get back into the game, United manager Carl Taylor threw Matt Glynn, Eric Kwakye and Marc Whiteman into the fray after half-time.
The tactic worked, albeit briefly, as United enjoyed a good 10 minute spell.
That ended when Watson made it 5-0 to the Rocks, only for Stephen Hughes to hit back within a minute to reduce the arrears.
But that was as good as it got for United, as Nightingale completed his hat-trick for the spot on 72 minutes, after Brendan Gallen handled the ball on the line, earning a red card for his troubles.
Watson then completed the rout, scoring two more goals in a five minute spell to bring his individual tally for the night to four.
Unbelievably, things got even worse before the end, as Dominic White became United’s second player to see red, this time for a trip when he was last man.

HIGH POINT: Stephen Hughes provided the single highlight on Tuesday night, netting United’s consolation goal on the 58th minute to prevent a whitewash.
Picture by Nigel Keene.