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Maidenhead United's survival hopes were given a shot in the arm
yesterday with a second half tour de force performance to humble
play off contenders Bishops Stortford.
The return to Stevenage of Jack Bradshaw, and injuries to Dwane Lee
and Wes Daly, led Johnson Hippolyte to adopt an enterprising 3-4-3
formation. Early on the match went to form with Stortford forcing
several set pieces around the United penalty area, but the normally
potent strike force of Greg Pearson and Roy Essandoh were
neutralized by some tidy defending. Maidenhead then took advantage
of a mix up in the Bishops back line to take the lead in the 18th
minute. Centre backs Tom Champion and Rob Gillman collided with
each other as they both tried to clear a speculative high ball to
the edge of the penalty area. The loose ball then fell to Manny
Williams who nimbly avoided the bumbling giants to convert the
chance. Stortford's cause was then dealt two further blows before
half time when Sam Taylor and Craig Edwards was forced off injured.
Having successfully protected their precious lead until half time,
United then served up a sumptuous banquet of football for their long
suffering supporters who had hitherto seen just one league win at
York Road all season. The first goal was the most impressive with
five players linking up to give Jermaine Hinds the opportunity to
score.
A pass forward to Richard Pacquette saw the ball move quickly to Lee
Newman and Williams who then set Hinds up with a chance from the
right hand corner of the penalty area. Taking time to pick his spot
Hinds fired the ball like a bullet from a gun into the far corner of
the net to double the lead in the 51st minute.
Six minutes later Stortford were reduced to ten men when Jason Mason
flailed his left arm at Narada Bernard. Maidenhead were quick to
make their advantage count thanks mainly to Ashley Smith playing
like a man possessed down the right wing to create three goals to
complete the rout.
Firstly in the 62nd minute Smith took the ball to the byline and
laid it back to Pacquette who slotted the ball home for his first
goal in United's colours. Smith repeated the feat in the 69th
minute, although this time it was Williams who picked up the cross
to score. Finally with four minutes remaining Smith delivered a pin
point corner from the left onto the head of Mark Nisbet at the near
post, Nisbet forcing the ball in with a header of terrific ferocity.
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Magpies: Tardif, Smith, Sterling, Hinds, Nisbet, Cooper, Newman (84
James), Brown, Williams, Pacquette (81 Wilson-Denis), Bernard.
Unused subs: Hamsher, Hudson. Crowd: 453
Goal: Williams 18 & 69, Hinds 51, Pacquette 62, Nisbet 86. Caution:
Brown 65.
Bishops: Young, Taylor (35 Patten), Lunan, Edwards (31 Mason),
Champion, Gilman, Yao, Williamson, Pearson (62 Fazakerley), Essandoh,
Deen.
Unused subs: Goodacre, Harris. Caution: Yao 55. Dismissal: Mason
57.
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