A DWAIN Clarke penalty miss with nine minutes left on the watch cost Maidenhead the chance to claim their first win of the season in a turgid affair in Gloucestershire on Monday.

With neither side able to turn possession into goal scoring opportunities, most incidents of note centred on    the man in black Mr Wills who gave an erratic performance with the whistle which frustrated both teams.  Clarke came closest to breaking the deadlock before half time when a fierce free kick was parried and then caught by Mango’s keeper Steve Book. 

The home team were first out of the blocks after the interval Chico Ramos pulling off two great saves to deny Ellis Wilmot and Martin Paul in the 48th and 49th minutes respectively.

Maidenhead’s chance to win the game came in bizarre circumstances when Adie Allen having hared across the penalty area, was chopped down as he was about to leave the box.  Clarke stepped up to take the kick, but Book guessed correctly, diving to his right and pushing the ball away, Yashwa Romeo blasting the loose ball over the bar.

Mangos: Book, Arndale, Allward, Cousins, Price, Horgan, Cornwall (86 Davis), Wilmot (75 Casey), Claridge, Paul (82 Meaker), Lane.  Unused Subs: Andrews, Anyinsah.

Bookings: Lane 40, Meaker 90. Gate: 271.  Mango Man Of The Match: Allward

Magpies: Ramos, Smith, Parsons, Osman, Sterling, Lewington, Hughes (66 O’Connor), Nisbet, Haule (76 Romeo), Allen, Clarke (84 Burnell).  Unused subs: Bunce, Howard.

Booking: Clarke 54, Allen 67, O’Connor 74, Lewington 90.  Magpie Man Of The Match: Osman