Maidenhead 2s beat Eastcote 3-0

Maidenhead followed up a surprise victory at Thame 1s last week with another victory at home to Eastcote 3s on Saturday. The match started as a tense and nervy affair with both teams clearly aware of the magnitude of the fixture between 10th and 8th in the league. However, pressure was soon exerted by both sides with penalty corners being won, but not converted into goals. A pattern of cat and mouse firmly emerged until late in the first half, Aran Wellman picked up the ball on a counter attack. He drove at the Eastcote defense before exchanging passes with Nick Lloyd to touch the ball into the net and give Maids a 1-0 lead. Maids managed to then see this through to the halftime despite a classic 'Chris Miall sliding tackle' sending an Eastcote sprawling in the D on the stroke of halftime. A penalty corner was awarded, with Chris perhaps rather fortunate to not receive a card for his troubles, but Eastcote were unable to convert the opportunity.

The second half started in a similar manner with Eastcote having plenty of possession, but Maids looking very dangerous on the counter attack. Despite the possession, Eastcote were unable to find a breakthrough and their frustrations started to boil over as two green cards were issued for 'chat' in quick succession (with a yellow subsequently issued later on). Maids then punished an increasingly ragged Eastcote with two goals to seal the win. Firstly, after a somewhat fortuitous decision that Ant Brayshaw was not within playing distance of another player when the ball struck his foot, he drove forward and won a free hit on the edge of th D. While the Eastcote players were complaining about the decision, quick thinking from Marcus Foley saw him drive into the D, commit the goalkeeper and lay the ball off to Mathieu Lemonnier to slide home to double Maids lead. The scoring was then completely as Maids when the length of the pitch with a beautiful goal. Marcus's aerial was controlled by Oli Lovegrove, who spun his marker and before playing a give and go with Matt Deane. He then got to the base line and flashed the ball across for Aran to tip into the goal.

Result: Maidenhead 2s 3 vs Eastcote 3s 0
Scorers: Aran 2, Mathieu
MoM: Aran for his excellent workrate up front and for the two goals
DoD: Chris for that tackle

The result moves Maids above Eastcote and up to 8th in the table:
http://www.south-league.com/results/league/mbbo12/2016-2017

Next week Maids travel to bottom club Oxford looking to continue their good form and make it three wins on the spin.