| Magpies Stumped by Riddle (08.09.07) |
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BRAINTREE TOWN 1 (0) |
MAIDENHEAD UNITED 1 (1) |
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Maidenhead continued their good away form with
a well deserved point at Braintree, indeed the Magpies were only
denied a win by a late penalty. Following the poor performance the previous week, and with player of the season so far Errol Telemaque injured, Manager Johnson Hippolyte rang the changes in his starting line up. Switching to a 4-4-2 formation United fielded a new defence of, from right to left, Bobby Behzadi, Mark Nisbet, Grant Cooper and Dominic Sterling. Dwane Lee moved into the midfield alongside Wes Daly, with Ashley Smith and Leon Fisher filling the right and left slots respectively. Yashwa Romeo was awarded his first start of the season up front partnering goal machine Manny Williams. The first half proved to be a scrappy affair, Braintree going close early on a when a left wing cross flew across the face of goal, just eluding Leon Archer at the far post. Maidenhead took the lead in the 22nd minute, when a Sterling throw in from the left found Williams, the nimble striker turned into the box and floated a mercurial shot through the defenders and past the long reach of goalkeeper Nicky Morgan into the far corner of the net. Braintree struggled to get back into the game, and at half time time their manager George Borg sent his team back out onto the pitch before they even had a chance to drink their tea. This initially had little effect on the game as the Magpies reassumed control in the second half, but a triple Iron substitution on the hour mark led to a period of sustained pressure from the home team. Shots on target were still a rarity though, Louis Wells saving well in the 67th minute from the only strike of note, getting down well to his left to push a Louis Riddle shot round the post. With the end in sight the travelling Magpie fans were looking forward to celebrating a second consecutive win on the road, only for their team to concede a soft penalty in the 80th minute, Riddle stepping up to the spot, giving Wells no chance with a clinical kick. Any fears of a Braintree revival were allayed though by a strong push by United to secure all three points, the Magpies looking much the stronger team at the final whistle. |
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Iron: Morgan, Sobers, Bailey (59 Jones),
Adedeji, Cousins, Burgess, Martin, Hawes, Baker (59 Quinton), Archer
(59 Sullivan), Riddle. Unused subs: Hopkins, Good. |