Magpies lost in The Warren (24.09.05)

WITH just three players remaining from the Maidenhead team which played Yeading in the league two weeks ago, the visitors’ lack of familiarity with each other showed in this FA Cup setback at The Warren on Saturday.
After a promising first 20 minutes in which both teams offered some bright, attacking play, it was the hosts who slowly took command producing a plethora of goal-scoring chances, of which they accepted three.
The Magpies threatened briefly with the hefty threesome of Nana Badu, Stephen Hughes and John Bacon causing concern for the Yeading defence with their powerful runs and no-nonsense approach.
But for all their endeavour, and that of the midfield, the Magpies actually produced few goal scoring opportunities of their own.
The second half was largely one-way traffic as the hosts took control and the Magpies’ lack of cohesion and fitness told as the contest wore on.
However, as a learning process, manager Carl Taylor will have been able to gauge how his newly-formed squad is shaping up against decent Conference South-standard opposition.
Initially the match – a typically end-to-end cup tie – promised much and on 14 minutes the Magpies produced their best chance of the match when a free-kick from Dominic White found Hughes, but despite being under no pressure he nodded his chance straight at the keeper.
Meanwhile, the hosts produced numerous crosses from wide positions into the danger area, but headers were either off target or missed altogether.
When the first goal finally came, on 39 minutes through an Errol Telemague bullet-header from a Charlie Mapes cross, the writing was on the wall for the visitors.
After the break, in a progressively niggly match, the Magpies never actually created a goal scoring chance, until the 90th minute, when a Hughes shot was deflected over the bar.
Yeading, though, were more clinical and on 76 minutes Manny Williams settled the tie with a tap-in under the body of keeper Paul McCarthy after Telemaque had beat the offside trap.
Nine minutes later Nevin Saroya scored from the spot after Gavin Tomlin was illegally sandwiched by White and Ryan Parsons.


DRIVING RUN: Magpies’ Ryan Parsons breaks free at The Warren on Saturday.