Peters: Magpies must match supporters' rising expectations after tough start

Jayden Mitchell-Lawson is lifted up by Remy Clerima. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Supporters’ expectations have risen following Maidenhead United’s relegation from the National League to the National League South, and assistant manager Ryan Peters admits the Magpies have been struggling to live up to those expectations in the first few weeks of the season.

United were without a win going into Monday’s clash with mid-table Horsham at York Road, having failed to win any of their first four matches, and lost to a 92nd minute winner at Weston Super Mare on Saturday afternoon.

Trailing 1-0 to a goal from their former player Shamir Fenelon at half-time on Monday, Peters admitted there were a smattering of boos from a small section of the crowd on Monday, but the Magpies responded in the best way possible - with a brilliant second half performance that saw the home side fight back for victory with goals from Remy Clerima and Jayden Mitchell-Lawson.

It was the perfect riposte to those fans who’d voiced their displeasure and disappointment after an admittedly awful first half performance, but Peters is hopeful this new look side - which in many ways is still finding its feet in the league and with each other - can live up to supporters’ expectations from now until the end of the season.

“Everyone to do with Maidenhead is a bit frustrated at this time,” he said after the final whistle, despite the side’s victory.

“We were booed off at half-time.

“That would never have happened for eight seasons in the National League.

“The expectations have risen, strangely, as we’ve come down.

“We have got to fall in line with those expectations and meet them. Three of our first four games have been below par, but you’d hope this takes a little bit of that weight off.

“There was a small group of fans (who booed). We understand their frustrations, we know we need to make people happy because they come here and pay their hard-earned money to watch us.

“We needed to be better and second half we were better. I hope we’ve sent them home happy today. Happy bank holiday.”

United’s performances in the first and second half couldn’t have been more different. In the first half they looked laboured in and out of possession as Horsham bossed the play and created the best chances. In contrast Maidenhead failed to create even a single opening of note, a rarity for an Alan Devonshire team playing at home - even as one of the smaller fishes in the National League.

Second half they made a few changes, with Liam Dulson, Josh Umerah and Josh Popoola breathing fresh life into their attacking play alongside the lively Jayden Mitchell-Lawson.

Horsham looked like they’d be hit with a ‘rope a dope’ as first Remy Clerima and then Mitchell-Lawson dragged the Magpies from the canvas to land knock out blows. By the end of the game, they fully deserved their victory with Horsham now offering next to nothing in attack.

Peters will hope the result can be the spark for a better season.

“Sometimes, if you’re that poor, they come in and they know it and you don’t have to say that much,” he said.

“The gaffer made changes straight away, he knew something needed to change.

“The subs that came on, I thought were fantastic. Straight away you could see a lift. Straight away we were getting forward a lot quicker. And because of that we were winning more second balls.

“Jayden Mitchell-Lawson I thought was absolutely fantastic, his first start in almost a year. And some of the boys had to do two 90s in 48 hours. That shows character and there was some really good play at times as well. We’re getting there.

“Some of the changes were enforced. Some of the players simply couldn’t start.”

He added; “The changes we made didn’t work in the first half, hence why we made those changes so quickly.

“Second half, the freshness of those boys coming on, even if they had played only 48 hours ago, was the spark and the catalyst for getting the ball forward more. We had more crosses going in and we won the second balls.

“That’s the way we like to play, we went away from that in the first few games of the season, but it seems like we’re back to doing what works for us. Long may that continue.

“There was a slight change in midfield as well because Asher got injured. JP went into a more advanced role in midfield, and he created some problems for the defenders as well. There were enforced changes, but the subs were fantastic when they came on.”

United now move into the second month of the campaign with a bit more momentum behind them. They visit Dover Athletic on Saturday and Bath City on Tuesday evening, two of this season’s longest away trips back-to-back. Both Dover and Bath have started the season reasonably well, with Dover in seventh having won three of their five matches and Bath in 10th with two wins and two draws from their opening five.