| Shortwood given short shrift (14.10.07) |
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MAIDENHEAD UNITED 3 (1) |
SHORTWOOD UNITED 0 |
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Maidenhead strolled into the fourth and final
qualifying round with a comfortable win over a Shortwood team whose
ambition appeared limited to earning a draw. This was immediately evident from the kick off as the visitors sat back and allowed the Magpies to dictate the game. The deadlock was almost broken in the sixth minute when Serge Makofo crossed from the left byline to the far post where Errol Telemaque headed goalwards only for keeper Martin Pearce to stretch out a hand and palm the ball away. Having escaped this early threat, Shortwood then made a good fist of smothering Maidenhead's forward play and frustration seemed be to creeping into the men in black and white. This almost turned to fatal error in the 33rd minute when a Bobby Behzadi back pass went to straight to Andy Hoskins who was running back from the previous attack, fortunately Louis Wells was alive to the danger and made a good save in what proved to be Shortwood's only real chance of the game. The play then immediately switched to the other end from Wells' clearance, another Makofo cross from the left only being cleared as far as Wes Daly on the edge of the penalty area, the diminutive midfielder applying a deadly finish to fire the ball into the net to score his first goal for the Magpies. The lead appeared to be doubled with three minutes of the half left when Lee Newman scored following good work from Grant Cooper. During the build up to the goal, referee Antony Coggins had waved away a linesman's flag and subsequently when the ball hit the back of the net he pointed to the centre spot. As the players were taking their places for the kick off he then eventually bowed to pressure from some of the Shortwood players, consulted his assistant, promptly disallowed the goal and awarded a goal kick. This incident proved to be no more than a disatraction though as within ten minutes of the restart Newman scored a legitimate goal, Telemaque providing the assist. Victory was sealed in the 66th minute when an Ashley Smith free kick from the left corner was headed in at the far post by Dwane Lee. With the defensive approach of Shortwood long pointless the game had opened up but Pearce made sure the score retained an air of respectability with saves from Newman (with the help of the post) and Darti Brown in the remaining time. |
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Magpies: Wells, Behzadi, Sterling, Lee,
Nisbet, Cooper, Telemaque (64 Smith), Daly (67 Brown Da), Williams
(73 James), Newman, Makofo. Unused subs: Romeo, Ramos. |