| Hawks swoop to steal last minute point (15.09.07) |
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MAIDENHEAD UNITED 3 (1) |
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 3 (2) |
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An exciting see saw game saw Maidenhead denied
a first home win at the death by promotion favourites Havant. Havant, who showed the scope of their ambition by signing former Brighton favourite Charlie Oatway before the game, were given an early warning that Maidenhead were to be no push over when Yashwa Romeo raced clear in the fourth minute, his shot being blocked by Hawks keeper Kevin Scriven. Havant then took an early lead when Maidenhead conceded a soft penalty, Mo Harkin going down following a challenge from Grant Cooper. Jamie Collins' spot kick was a weak one, but was good enough to dribble past the reach of Louis Wells in the United goal. The rest of the half was dominated by Maidenhead as they pushed hard to find a way through the stern rearguard of Havant. This all seemed to be in vain when with three minutes to go to the interval, the Hawks doubled their lead from a corner, Brett Poate's cross from the right being glanced in at the near post by the head of Neil Sharp. Maidenhead then gave themselves hope with a goal on the stroke of half time, a Bobby Behzadi cross from the right being met by the head of Dwane Lee at the far post to halve the deficit. After the break, Maidenhead produced their best 45 minutes of football this season, posing a continual threat to the Havant goal. Manny Williams was first to test Scriven two minutes in with a good effort that was blocked. Romeo then beat the keeper on the hour mark only for Hawks' skipper Tom Jordan to kick the ball away with an empty net waiting. Five minutes later Romeo finally equalised when he headed in an Ashley Smith free kick. The momentum was now firmly behind the Magpies and with sixteen minutes left Williams did everything but score when his shot hit the post and agonisingly rolled across the face of the goal to safety. The spritely striker was not to be denied three minutes later though when he got on the end of another Smith free kick, striking the ball goalwards, Havant's Sharp helping it over the line. Unbelievably United had overturned Havant's two goal advantage and all seemed set fair for a first home victory of the season as the minutes ticked away. Unfortunately two minutes into injury time Havant were mysteriously awarded a free kick in the centre cirle which was launched into the box where Tony Taggart struck the ball home to rescue a point for his team. |
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Magpies: Wells, Behzadi, Sterling (75
Fyfield), Lee, Nisbet, Cooper, Smith, Daly, Williams (88
Wilson-Denis), Romeo (73 Newman), Makofo. Unused subs: Okyere,
Ramos. |