Having given visitors Kings Lynn a welcome gift of a goal head start, Maidenhead played their way back  into the game to earn a deserved draw on Saturday.  In truth, Kings Lynn were lucky not to leave York Road empty handed.  The Linnets were the second team with Championship pretensions to visit York Road this week, but were pale in comparison to the tough Chippenham outfit who also took a point from the Magpies on Tuesday night.

Maidenhead put the ball in the net for the first time in the third minute.  Unfortunately it was at the wrong end.  A searing run down the right wing from Paul Atkins ended with an incisive cross into the six yard box which the hapless Dominic Sterling could only turn past his goalkeeper Chico Ramos to give a goal away.  The Bell Street faithful could be forgiven for thinking this was the prelude to another humiliating defeat along the lines of several witnessed during last season’s relegation, but the Magpies are made of sterner stuff this term, heads did not drop and instead United began a determined fight back into the game.

Within ten minutes Lynn keeper Shaun Marshall had to be at his best to palm wide a Sterling effort who almost made amends for his earlier lapse.  With Lynn adopting a direct approach they troubled Ramos just once before half time when a long ball was flicked onto Jack Defty whose shot was well saved.  With the interval in sight Marshall again came to Lynn’s rescue parrying a wicked free kick from Dwain Clarke.

It was Ramos’ turn to show off his goalkeeping skills midway through the second half when a snapshot out of nothing from Shaun Carey drew a flying save to tip the effort over the bar.  The equalizer came with less than a quarter of an hour left on the watch, right back Mark Nisbet making a rare foray forward, dribbled the ball through the Lynn defence before picking his spot to score a virtuoso goal.  With both sides lacking a cutting edge up front there were no further chances, with perhaps the Maidenhead manager a little happier at the final outcome.

Magpies: Ramos, Smith (79 Haule), Parsons, Bunce, Sterling, Lewington, Witt, Nisbet, O’Connor (87 Beevor), Hughes (66Romeo), Clarke.  Unused subs: Burnell, Howard

Goal: Nisbet 76.  Gate: 257.  Magpie Man Of The Match: Craig Lewington

Linnets: Marshall, West, Smith, Warren, Cooper, Carey, Atkins (56 McMahon), Camm, Defty J (69 O’Halloran), Frew (74 Nolan), Toms.  Unused Subs: Kennedy, Defty C.

Goal: Own Goal (Sterling) 3.  Ref: J. Comley (Windsor)