| Ruthless Hampton dispatch profligate Magpies (18.02.08) |
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MAIDENHEAD UNITED 1 (0) |
HAMPTON 2 (2) |
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Hampton illustrated why they have prospered far
more than fellow Blue Square South newcomers Maidenhead with a
clinical victory at York Road. Led by former Maidenhead manager Alan Devonshire, the Beavers stuck to rigidly to a game plan which saw them sit back and soak up waves after wave of Magpie attacks, and then mercilessly take the chances afforded them by the United defence. The pattern of the game was established early on with Maidenhead being invited to press forward with the visitors confident that their defence would hold and act as a spring board for an attack. With United unable to test Matt Lovett in the Hampton goal, the Beavers served notice that they would have no such difficulty in the 16th minute when a snapshot from distance by Francis Quarm forced Louis Wells into a full stretch save. Within ten minutes Hampton took lead as a move down the right wing saw the ball find its way through the Maidenhead defence to Elliott Godfrey at the far post who made no mistake with his finish. The lead was doubled in the 37th minute when another right wing cross found its way to the far post where Ian Hodges was waiting to head home. This at last stung Maidenhead into a potent response with both Gavin James and Jack Bradshaw forcing last ditch clearances before the break. After the interval it was a game of one half, as Maidenhead gave Hampton the kitchen sink treatment in a bid to rescue a point. The introduction of Lee Newman only nine minutes into the second period freshened up the Maidenhead attack, the diminutive blonde striker finding himself at the centre of the fightback. Within three minutes of his introduction Newman teed up Manny Williams from close range but although the striker made room to set himself, he blasted the ball over the bar with the keeper beaten. Williams was on target though in the 66th minute, an Ashley Smith corner from the right being helped on by Lee Kersey to Williams who this time made no mistake with his finish. The force was now with Maidenhead and within a minute of the restart a Smith effort was deflected narrowly wide. However despite the continued siege on the Hampton penalty area this was the last shot of note, the Beavers successfully closing out the game to take all three points. |
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Magpies: Wells, Bradshaw (54 Sealey),
Sterling, Daly, Nisbet, Kersey, Smith, Brown Da, Williams, Hastings
(54 Newman), James. Unused subs: Cooper, Clarke, Hudson. Goal: Williams 66. Caution: Sterling 85. MUSA Magpie of the Match: Ashley Smith Beavers: Lovett, Lake R, Matthews, Jeffrey, Quarm, Wells, Inns, Godfrey (72 Lake S), Hodges, Yaku (88 McAuley), McIntosh. Unused subs: Fernandes, Tanner, Frost. Goals: Godfrey 25. Hodges 37. Cautions: Quarm 41. Crowd: 406. |