| Schoolboy defending costs Magpies dear (24.03.08) |
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MAIDENHEAD UNITED 1 (1) |
THURROCK 2 (1) |
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Maidenhead let slip a priceless opportunity to
put distance between themselves and the relegation zone this
afternoon, defensive errors allowing visitors Thurrock to overturn
an early Manny Williams goal. Following Saturday's poor showing at Cambridge, Maidenhead manager Johnson Hippolyte rang the changes, recalling Dwane Lee, Wes Daly, Darti Brown and Lee Newman to what was virtually a full strength line up. After surviving an early scare when Greg Lincoln rattled the cross bar with a free kick in the fourth minute, United were the dominant team in the first half. They had the ball in the net in the 16th minute only for Lee Newman's header to be mysteriously disallowed for offside. Nine minutes later despite Thurrock having a more genuine grievance, United took the lead. An Ashley Smith corner from the left was missed by the keeper under pressure from the Maidenhead attackers, leaving Williams to tidy up and help the ball over the line from close range. The goal was no less than Maidenhead deserved but just when it looked like they would be able to enjoy their half time refreshment, they needlessly conceded a penalty. Lincoln stepped up to dispatch the spot kick. This let off was all the incentive Thurrock needed to take the game to the Magpies in the second half, sensing the underlying fragility in the Maidenhead defence they pushed for a second throughout the second period. Several decent crosses flew across the face of goal unwanted although Chris Tardif had to be at his best to save his team in the 69th minute with a flying save to deny a Thurrock header. Ironically this commitment to attack did open up a few opportunities for United to play on the break, a Newman cross almost being turned into his own net by Matt Paine with nineteen minutes remaining. A strong run from Newman again in the 77th minute promised to bear fruit as he ran clear on goal. His feet were clipped by the keeper but rather than go down he pursued the hopeless cause, the ball running out of play. Attention quickly switched to the other end, Dominic Sterling putting Tardif under pressure with a high back pass. Tardif then compounded the danger by slicing the clearance straight to a Thurrock attacker who gleefully passed to David Bryant in acres of space with only Tardif to beat which he did so with ease. The remaining time saw the Magpies continue to work hard to get something from the game but with the endeavour wasted by two lapses of concentration, results elsewhere mean Maidenhead are now once again fighting for their Blue Square South lives. |
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Magpies: Tardif, Bradshaw, Smith, Lee (58
Kersey), Nisbet, Sterling, Daly (74 Bernard), Brown, Williams,
Newman, Hinds (83 Hastings). Unused subs: Sealy, Wilson-Denis. Goal: Williams 25. Caution: Smith 62. Crowd: 258 Shoppers: Blackmore, Flynn, Clark, Swaine, Paine, Jallow, Orilonishe, Lincoln, Stadhart (83 Hughes), Bryant, Bodkin. Unused subs: Anderson, Read, Cole, Tenkorang. Goals: Lincoln 44 pen, Bryant 79. Caution: Jallow 81 |