Maidenhead 1
(McCoulsky 76′)
United 3
(Jarvis 45′, Nouble 48′, 72′)
United made it four wins in a row on Monday as Gary Johnson’s side ran out 3-1 winners against Maidenhead United at York Road.
Aaron Jarvis netted his 15th goal of the season to put the men in yellow ahead on the verge of half-time, before a second half brace by Frank Nouble marked the strikers first for the club and made it 3-0 to United. With less than 15 minutes to go, the home side got a goal back through substitute Shawn McCoulsky, but United held firm to secure the 3-1 victory.
Unsurprisingly, United manager Gary Johnson named an unchanged starting line-up following Good Friday’s 2-0 victory over play-off chasers Eastleigh at Plainmooor.
United had their first corner inside the opening stages and in breezy conditions, Jack Stobbs corner was flicked on and had to be carefully watched and gathered by Alexis Andre Jr at the far-post. On 10 minutes Gary Johnson’s side went close from another corner. After Stobbs’ delivery was flicked on, the ball fell for Asa Hall, who controlled the ball before firing his effort low towards Remy Clerima and vocal appeals for a handball were waved away by the referee.
Minutes later is was the home side who broke down the left flank. Emile Acquah picked up the ball before driving forward, forcing Mark Halstead off his line, but a crucial interception denied Maidenhead’s number 14 a goalscoring opportunity. In the 15th minute a goal-line clearance by Lewis Collins ensured the match remained goalless.
Following a period of end-to-end play, it was United who went on to break the deadlock just before half time. Shaun Donnellan charged down the right flank before playing Stobbs forward, whose superb cross into the middle was met by Jarvis who was able to cooly direct his header into the back of the net to make it 1-0 on 45 minutes.
Gary Johnson’s side were quick out of the blocks in the second half and three minutes after the restart Nouble doubled United’s advantage. A long ball forward by Tom Lapslie was chased down by Nouble and forced the Maidenhead goalkeeper off his line, it was Nouble who got there first, with his looped effort tucking into the left side of goal to make it 2-0.
On 65 minutes United goalkeeper Halstead was forced into action; Sam Beckwith tried to play Ashley Nathaniel-George through into the left side of the box, but United’s number 1 was quick off of his line to gather.
Seven minutes later however, Nouble got his brace to make it 3-0. Great hold-up play by Jarvis saw the United forward keep possession deep inside the Maidenhead penalty area. Jarvis played the ball to Nouble on his right, whose low-driven effort could only ricochet off of Andre Jr and tuck into the corner at the near-post.
In the 76th minute, the home side got a goal back. A mis-placed pass midway inside the United half allowed substitute McCoulsky to be played through on goal, with Maidenhead’s number 9 firing his effort low and into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
With ten minutes to go, Maidenhead continued to try and press the United defence, but United managed the game well to secure all three points. Onto York at Plainmoor next Saturday…
Maidenhead: 31. Alexis Andre Jr, 2. Zico Asare (9. Shawn McCoulsky 55′), 3. Sam Beckwith, 4. Will De Havilland, 6. Remy Clerima, 8. Ashley Nathaniel-George, 10. Kane Ferdinand (18. Adam Leathers 41′), 14. Emile Acquah (7. Sam Barratt 74′), 17. Reece Smith, 19. Ryan Upward, 24. Alan Massey (c).
SUBS NOT USED: 25. Harrison Panayiotou, 36. Bruno Andrade.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie (11. Kieron Evans 90+2′), 8. Asa Hall (c), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Nico Lawrence, 21. Dean Moxey, 27. Jack Stobbs (15. Ben Wyatt HT’), 28. Kevin Dawson, 31. Lewis Collins, 45. Frank Nouble (7. Ryan Hanson 90+2′).
SUBS NOT USED: 5. Ali Omar, 22. Rhys Lovett.
Yellow Cards: Donnellan 26′, Halstead, 76′
Attendance: 1,615.