Maidenhead United had a 'point to prove' in commanding home win over AFC Totton

Josh Umerah scoring for the Magpies against Totton. Photo: Darren Woolley/MUFC

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Maidenhead United delivered the perfect riposte to Saturday’s underwhelming display at Chippenham Town as they dominated AFC Totton at York Road on Tuesday evening.

The Stags arrived in Berkshire with a proud recent record to protect, two wins in four unbeaten games, but they were no match for the Magpies who mercilessly hunted them down in packs.

From the first whistle they were pushed onto the back foot, barely able to string two or three passes together before losing it to a well-timed tackle from the likes of Remy Clerima and Matt Robinson.

When the Magpies won the ball back, they attacked with real purpose and should have scored many more than the goals they got through Josh Umerah and Josh Popoola.

Stags’ keeper Ryan Gosney saved his side on several occasions and without his alert keeping, Totton would have lost this match by five or six goals and that wouldn’t have flattered the Magpies.

In short, the first 45 minutes was one of the best halves of football you’re likely to see in the National League South all season. And though they couldn’t quite sustain that energy and tempo for the entirety of the match, they were still by far the better side.

“The boys were fantastic,” said Peters afterwards.

“It’s always good to bounce back from a poor performance. I thought they were really good in the first half.

“If I’m being ultra critical, I thought we should have come in with more goals. If you can kill games off in the first half it makes it easier in the second.

“We had some additional chances to kill the game in the second half, and we don’t which then allows the opposition back into the game. I thought we were comfortable, being uncomfortable.

“So, although they had the lion’s share of possession for 20 minutes, they didn’t put much emphasis on our goal, which is fine. A really good performance.”

He added: “To a man I thought we let ourselves down on Saturday. So, every one of them had a point to prove. And if you look at our squad at this present moment in time, we’ve got choices.

“Players can’t afford to have too many games like they had on Saturday. I thought the reaction was perfect, which is the reason why we were so good in that first half.

“Everyone came out with a point to prove and as soon as that whistle went, they were pushing. I’m happy because I’ve got a good group.

“It’s probably one of our best first half performances, both in and out of possession. What we’ve got to try and do is make that our 90-minute game. But I’m being ultra critical because I thought we were very good value for the win, both defensively, keeping a clean sheet, especially after the manner we lost on Saturday. It was about bouncing back and everybody seems to be together.”

Maidenhead’s two goals were well taken too. Liam Dulson created the first with a neat drag back and shot from the edge of the area in the 11th minute that deflected into the path of Umerah. He lifted the ball over Gosney and into the back of the net before covering defenders could hook clear.

The second goal in the 40th minute ensured the scoreline more accurately reflected Maidenhead’s dominance. Robinson threaded a lovely ball through for Popoola who checked back inside his marker before sweeping a shot into the top corner of Gosney’s net as he fell to the ground.

More goals should have followed for the Magpies in the second half, and Dulson will wonder how his name wasn’t on the scoresheet. At the other end, Jordi Van Stappershoef pulled off a couple of key saves from Christie Ward and Malachi Linton to snuff out any hope for the visitors.

United now host seventh placed Maidstone United at York Road on Saturday. The Stones sit level with them on 52 points but have played two more games than Peters’ side.

“We’ve managed to go from seventh before the game on Saturday, to 10th after the game and we’re up to sixth now. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster but we’re in it and that’s the main thing,” added Peters.

“There have been obstacles we’ve had to overcome to get to this position.

“It’s a massive game now on Saturday and it gives us a buffer if we’re able to win it. We’ve got to try and put a run together now. It’s probably the only thing we haven’t done in my time. Before under Alan Devonshire we put a run of five or six wins together.

“If we’re going to really break the play-offs and push the teams above us, we’ve got to try and go on a run, whatever that looks like on Saturday, by hook or by crook, we’ve got to get something from Saturday’s game.

“They have a strong side. We had to be at our very best at their ground to come away with the points. We’re going to have to do the same on Saturday. We’re at home so we’re hoping that the lion’s share of possession is in our favour, but essentially, if we don’t, if we come out like we did on Saturday, they’ll beat us, so we’ve got to play like we did tonight.”