MAIDENHEAD UNITED 6 (2)

A early brace of goals from Errol Telemaque sett Maidenhead off on their FA Cup campaign with a comfortable win over Brockenhurst by a final margin of six goals.

The Badgers' parade in the competition, which had already passed through three rounds, was put in jeopardy even before the kick off when it was revealed that their manager and goalkeeper had elected to go on holiday rather than face the Magpies. 

Yet despite the rural location, which was exemplified by the cattle grid that all who entered the ground had to cross, Brockenhurst's approach to the game was far from agricultural and a good game of football ensued.

Maidenhead declared their attacking intentions from the start, a quickly taken Dwane Lee free kick hitting the outside of the post in the fourth minute.  Brockenhurst countered quickly from this let off creating a great opening for Darren Cross, only for his header to fly well wide.

The Magpies were soon had the opportunity to bait their opponents for this miss when Telemaque badgered his way past his marker in pursuit of a Wes Daly pass, the pass flukily ricocheting off Telemaque's leg and flying into the back of the net to put United ahead in the ninth minute. 

After eighteen minutes Telemaque scored in more conventional fashion, when he applied a great finish to score from inside the penalty area following good work on the right from Manny Williams.

Maidenhead preserved their two goal lead to half time and then had to be at their best to weather a Brockenhurst storm after the interval.  Following a move which saw Daly put Williams through, Brockenhurst cleared off the line and switched from defence to attack in an instant a Cross effort being finely saved by United keeper Louis Wells who quickly regained his composure to again save well, this time from Simon Young.

The cruel nature of football was then exposed as Maidenhead turned their opponents over. A Bobby Behzadi throw from the right found Daly, who again found Williams with his pass into the penalty area.  This time Williams elected to unselfishly square the ball to Lee Newman who made no mistake with his shot from point blank range in the 58th minute.  Six minutes later the game was over as a contest when a Williams shot from just outside the box was deflected past the hapless Stuart Willliamson in the Brockenhurst goal.

Following a flurry of substitutions, Gavin James was instrumental in the final two goals, setting up Serge Makofo for the fifth in the 74th minute, then going it alone to score with time up on the watch.

Badgers: Williamson, Liddon, Young, Griffiths (75 Marwood C), Marden, Anderson, Veal (70 Adams), Marwood S (78 Ansell), Kneller, Cross, Clothier.  Unused subs: King, Colverson.

Magpies: Wells, Behzadi, Sterling, Lee, Nisbet, Cooper, Telemaque (75 Fisher), Daly (67 Clarke), Williams (72 James), Newman, Makofo.  Unused subs: Romeo, Ramos.

Goals: Telemaque 9, 18; Newman 58, Williams 64, Makofo 74, James 90.  Gate: 257.

MUSA Magpie of the Match: Lee Newman.