| Safety sealed with ease (19.04.08) |
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HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 0 |
MAIDENHEAD UNITED 3 (2) |
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Maidenhead ensured they would be playing Blue Square South football
again next season with a comfortable win over Havant in Hampshire
yesterday. Forced to make changes to the winning line up from the last two games, on paper Johnson Hippolyte’s team faced a challenging contest, but on grass it proved to be a different. After a bright start from the home side Maidenhead took the lead in the ninth minute. A lovely move saw Manny Williams take the ball in midfield, bring it forward and pass to Carl Wilson-Denis on the edge of the penalty area who found Lee Newman at the far post to score. Newman was soon to be found at the centre of everything Maidenhead as the goal appeared to deflate the Hawks who inexplicably, given their play off pretensions, allowed the Magpies the time and space to dictate the play. This produced multiple Maidenhead chances, Williams wasting a shot when Wilson-Denis was better placed, and Newman having a shot deflected wide, the resulting corner being pushed onto the post by the goalkeeper. The crucial second goal arrived in the 24th minute. A cross from the left by Narada Bernard, was met by the head of Williams who beat his lofty marker with an amazing leap. Wilson-Denis picked up the loose ball to score. After half time with a rollicking from their manager ringing in their ears, Havant made a concerted effort to get back into the game but the writing was on the well Luke Nightingale missed an open goal from close range when it appeared easier to score. As the half wore on Maidenhead again took charge, sealing victory with twenty minutes. A long ball put Williams in the clear who apparently stunned by the amount of space he had shot straight at Kevin Scriven. Fortunately Scriven could only parry the ball and Williams picked up the rebound, this time carefully picking his spot to hit his 30th goal of the season. As the game dragged onto five minutes of stoppage time the news came through that Weston had lost meaning that the survival celebrations could begin in anticipation of the final whistle. |
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Hawks: Scriven, Watson, Poate, Wilkinson, Elphick (31 Taggart),
Smith, Henry (56 Watkins), Collins, Nightingale, Baptiste (63
Slabber), Day. Unused subs: McCallum, Taylor. Cautions: Nightingale 28, Watson 38, Collins 77, Day 90+3. Magpies: Tardif, Clarke (71 Daly), Sterling (80 Fyfield), Hinds, Nisbet, Cooper, Newman, Brown, Williams, Wilson-Denis (61 James), Bernard. Unused subs: Hamsher, Hudson. Goals: Newman 9, Wilson-Denis 24, Williams 70. Caution: Clarke 69. Crowd: 715. |