Mens 3rd XI beat Tring 1 - 0

In what was a less than classic game of hockey, Maidenhead 3s came away with a deserved but tense win, perhaps feeling the pressure following two consecutive defeats and facing a side that had also struggled coming up to pace at the start of the season. Trialling a more attacking 3-4-3 formation Maidenhead looked vulnerable to a counter attack in the opening phases before Karsten Smet and Mark Hutchinson began to exert some influence from the middle of the park. Indeed, after coming close with a couple of attempts, Smet claimed the game’s deciding goal shortly before half-time with a drag flick that had too much pace for the Tring keeper’s despairing efforts. However, seeing as Maidenhead had seven short corners this was a poor return. Maidenhead were indebted to keeper Martin Beardmore for seeing them into the break ahead when he rushed out to deny a Tring striker following an incisive through-ball.

Wastefulness from the Maidenhead strikers continued in the second half, failing to deliver the telling final ball and squandering those chances that were created. Maidenhead also endured a trying period when Hutchinson received a yellow card following repeated fouls, culminating in a sliding challenge Paul Scholes would have been proud of, and that was equally successful. However despite Tring’s valiant efforts, which saw a short corner deflected onto the post before being rescued from danger by Steve Nattress, Maidenhead held out for a much needed 3 points.