| Crossbar denies ten man Maidenhead (09.02.08) |
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MAIDENHEAD UNITED 0 |
LEWES 0 |
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Maidenhead put their home woes behind them with
a tremendous performance to all but beat league leaders Lewes,
despite the Rooks having a man advantage for fifty minutes of the
game. Maidenhead started the game brightly bringing the ball forward with confidence, but it was Lewes who came closest to opening the scoring in the 23rd minute. Dominic Sterling uncharacteristically shanked a clearance straight to Blue Square South leading scorer Paul Booth. Booth beat keeper Louis Wells only for his shot to rebound to safety off the woodwork. Within a minute Wells' counterpart Steve Williams was called into action when Gavin James latched onto an Ashley Smith free kick, the young front man's shot being pushed round the post by Williams. Maidenhead remained on top in the first half but with chances at a premium the result was wide open. The pendulum appeared to swing towards the visitors three minutes before the break. Having made one firm challenge Darti Brown threw himself into another to recover the ball. Not one but two opponents imitated his full blooded attempt to win the ball but it was only Brown who received his marching orders despite being swamped by orange shirts while he lay prostrate on the ground. Manager Johnson Hippolyte was also ordered to leave the dug out after he had run onto the pitch to protect his player. One saving grace was the timing of the dismissal which enabled the Maidenhead team to compose themselves ready for the challenge of playing a half with only ten men. A spectator wandering into the ground at half time though could have been forgiven for not spotting there was a player missing as Maidenhead tore into their opponents with gusto. With three minutes of the restart John Hastings missed two great chances to score. The first came when a Smith header looped over the keeper's head to Hastings whose overhead kick went just wide. The second was a little more straight forward, Hastings picking up a through ball to go one on one with the keeper only to blast his shot well wide. In reply Lewes could only offer a display of cynical gamesmanship which was unbecoming of their position as champions elect. This saw the opposition players roundly booed by the home fans, Wells dealing comfortably with any attacking intentions. As the game entered the closing stages the ten men of Maidenhead refused to tire and in the dying minutes twice did enough to score. Both goal scoring opportunities came from the boot of Dwane Lee free kicks from the edge of the penalty area. With one minute of normal time remaining Lee forced Williams to tip the ball over the bar, four minutes later Williams was beaten only for the crossbar denied United a victory that would have been thoroughly deserved. |
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Magpies: Wells, Bradshaw, Sterling,
Daly, Nisbet, Kersey, Smith, Brown Da, Williams (85 Newman),
Hastings (78 Wilson-Denis), James (67 Lee). Unused subs: Cooper,
Hudson. Cautions: Daly 33, Kersey 56, Sterling 88. Dismissals: Brown 42, Hippolyte 42. MUSA Man of the Match: Louis Wells Rooks: Williams, Conroy, Barness,
Kennett (57 Groves), Robinson, Simpemba, Holloway, Hearn (71 Wormull),
Booth, Binns. Unused subs: Legge, Barr, Hamilton. |