Mens 1st XI beat Newbury & Thatcham 1st XI 2 - 1

Maidenhead secured another 3 points with a 2-1 win over Newbury & Thatcham. Newbury went ahead in the first half, only for Paul Brown to score two short corners in the second, hitting the winning goal in the final play of the game. It was an important result for the team, keeping them in touch with the league leaders.

On paper this should have been a straightforward game for Maidenhead. They were 28 points above Newbury who sat at the bottom of the league, having only won one game so far this season. A win was vital to keep the pressure on the league leaders, Chiswick who Maidenhead play next week, and second place Eastcote. However, as has so often been the case this season Maidenhead did not start with their normal tempo or style.

Maidenhead had possession but upon reaching the final third of the pitch, found themselves forcing the passes. Newbury were able to pick these off easily and launch counter-attacks. As this continued Newbury found themselves in the game with a number of chances. Their goal eventually came when successive fouls on a Newbury player resulted in a short corner being awarded. Although the strike from the top was not clean, the ball found its way into the corner of the net and past stand-in keeper Rush Sawney.

Maidenhead did push on for an equaliser but, as each attack broke down, their play became more frantic and impatient. Some passes into the D from the 25 did find players in good positions but they were closed down quickly with very little time to finish effectively.

Maidenhead went into half time relieved to be only one down and aware that a lot needed to be done to improve and, if it didn’t, their title challenge might well be over. The second half began fairly evenly but Maidenhead began to find space down the right flank with Rob Kemp pushing up well from right back. Good attacking play from Scott Craig, Tim Durance and Pat Knight did produce a number short corners but it wasn’t until the 5th of the game that Maidenhead took their chance.

Paul Brown struck the ball well from the top and the keeper could not get down to his right quickly enough to stop it going in. With around 10 minutes left Maidenhead continued to press for a winner with Newbury playing counter-attacking hockey. The pressure told when one Newbury player was shown a yellow for repeated fouls but Maidenhead could still not create the decisive opportunity.

It was beginning to look more desperate for Maidenhead until a short corner was awarded in the final seconds. The final whistle blew indicating that at the end of the play the game was over. Paul Brown kept cool to smash in his second of the game and ensure the victory for Maidenhead, sending the dejected Newbury team away with no result despite a battling performance.

Maidenhead now play league leaders Chiswick hoping to close the gap to three points with a victory over them.