Maidenhead turned in their best home league performance of the season to comfortably beat a raw Rugby team on Saturday. For the third weekend in a row United took an early lead with a well worked goal which exemplified the excellent teamwork on display from the Magpies all afternoon. Dean Fenton brought the ball forward down the right wing, cutting the ball inside to right back Mark Nisbet. Nisbet burst into the box and unleashed a fierce shot which was too hot for the goalkeeper to handle, and Yashwa Romeo arrived on cue to sweep the loose ball into the back of the net. Maidenhead dominated the rest of the half however a youthful Rugby side retained a threat to equalise thanks to the pace of striker David Blenkinsopp. The key moment of the match arrived in the dying minutes of the first half. In the final minute of normal time a Rugby attack saw United keeper Chico Ramos beaten when he rushed out to collect a cross. Delroy Gordon struck the ball goalward only for Nisbet to make a last ditch clearance off the line. Maidenhead immediately capitalised on this lucky escape in injury time with Fenton again making headway down the right flank. This time he found Neville Roach with his cross and the experienced striker stroked the ball home with his trademark nonchalance.
The two goal lead served to give United fresh impetus in the second half, and only an outstanding display from Rugby’s Azeri Under 21 goalkeeper Faz Afandiyev prevented the Magpies running up a scoreline worthy of being typed up in letters on final score. In the 53rd minute Afandiyev denied Maidenhead four times, firstly tipping Romeo’s header over the bar then saving shots from Romeo and Dominic Sterling from the resulting corner. Another corner kick followed this time Afandiyev was able to stop the rot by catching Roach’s bullet header. Maidenhead were now rampant Roach running clear of the Rugby defence in the 56th minute, but with only Afandiyev to beat, the ball bobbled causing Roach to balloon the ball over the bar. The third goal finally arrived a minute later when Ashley Smith cut in from the left wing and unleashed a terrific shot with his right foot which flew across the penalty area into the far corner of the net. The introduction of teenage Polish striker David Kolodynski saw Rugby mount a concerted effort to salvage some pride from the game, but Ramos was not called upon and Maidenhead finished comfortable winners.

Magpies: Ramos, Nisbet, Parsons, Bunce, Sterling, Clarke, Fenton, Brown Da (73 Lee), Roach (84 Hughes), Romeo (79 Newman), Smith. Unused subs: Telemaque, Osman.
Goals: Romeo 7, Roach 45, Smith 57. Caution: Clarke 68. Magpie of the Match: Ashley Smith.
Sports: Afandiyev, Stringfellow, Tullin, Herbert, Gordon, Hall (55 Kolodynski), Gearing, Francis, Taylor, Blenkinsopp (64 Harris), Williams. Unused subs: Commander, Smith.
Cautions: Francis 85, Herbert 86. Gate: 204.