Maidenhead 4
(Coley 7′, Blissett 43′, 51′, Orsi-Dadomo 54′)
United 1
(Boden 90′ pen)
It was a disappointing evening for The Gulls, who slipped to defeat against Maidenhead at York Road.
Josh Coley gave Maidenhead a perfect start, before two goals from Nathan Blissett either side of the interval put the game beyond United. A fourth strike from Danilo Orsi-Dadomo rounded off a comfortable victory for the hosts, although Scott Boden’s late consolation via the penalty spot did reduce the arrears shortly before the full-time whistle.
Manager Gary Johnson made just the one change the starting line-up that secured a 0-0 draw at Boreham Wood last time out, with Jake Andrews replacing Ben Whitfield, whilst new loan signing from Plymouth, Ryan Law, took the former’s place on the substitutes bench.
It took a little over six minutes for the hosts to take the lead, with the first real chance of the game.
After Joe Lewis’ clearance was picked up on the right wing by James Comley, the Maidenhead man delivered a pin-point cross into the area which Coley met perfectly, as he volleyed past Shaun MacDonald to make it 1-0.
It took some time for The Gulls to regroup following that early setback, however once they got their passing game going, a few openings began to be created, with an Armani Little cross in the 16th minutes finding the Billy Waters steaming in from the left, however his volley failed to trouble the goalkeeper, with ball comfortably clearing the crossbar.
Maidenhead’s approach was a little more direct, however it was no less effective on 27 minutes, as Coley tried to double his tally from the edge of the box, however this time MacDonald was equal to it, diving low to his left to keep the ball out.
Eight minutes later, a Jake Andrews corner nearly found its target as Asa Hall went to meet it, however home goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond was equal to it, rising to claim the ball off the United skipper’s head.
Two minutes before the interval though, it was the hosts who struck again, leaving Johnson’s men with a mountain to climb.
Comley fed the ball out wide on the left to Nana Ofori-Twumani, who delivered an inviting cross to the far post, with the ball then headed back in to the path of Blissett, who slammed the ball high into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 two minutes before the break.
Despite initially bossing possession following the restart, things soon got much worse for Torquay.
After showing some excellent close control to break into the left-hand side of the area, Ofori-Twumasi pulled the ball back to Blissett, who fired low into the net to make it three in the 51st minute.
A superb save from MacDonald may have denied Blissett his hat-trick soon after, however the United stopper could do nothing moments later, as Orsi-Dadomo beat Sam Sherring inside the box before steadying himself to fire the ball into the far corner to put further gloss on the scoreline for the hosts.
An Assistant’s flag prevented further damage just past the hour mark, as Orsi-Dadomo got on the end of ‘keeper Ashby-Hammond’s hopeful clearance downfield to lob the ball over MacDonald, before substitute Olaf Koszela’s deflected effort towards goal a minute later at the other end did at least provide some welcome respite for the watching Yellow Army.
Despite the emphatic nature of the scoreline, there was no let up from Johnson’s men, and they continued to chase down every ball in a bid to improve matters, and in the final minute, there was at least some reward for their efforts.
Sensing an opportunity, Boden got in between a retreating defender and goalkeeper and after getting to the ball before a combination of both brought him down illegally, the same man stepped up to fire the ball down the middle of the goal to open his account in a United shirt.
Following the final whistle, Gulls boss Gary Johnson lamented his side’s poor showing during the majority of the match, which ultimately condemned his side to defeat in Berkshire.
“That was a real poor seventy minutes we had – a very, very, poor seventy minutes, and I blame myself. I’m going to take full responsibility for that, in many ways. I’m the manager, I’m taking the full responsibility.”
Tonight may have been one to forget for his side, however with 17 games remaining, there’s still plenty of time to consign this result to the archives, and create some more lasting memories come the end of the season.
MAIDENHEAD: 1. Taye Ashby-Hammond, 5. Manny Parry, 7. Josh Coley (25. Sam Barratt, 71′), 8. James Comley (12. Bradley Keetch, 78′), 9. Nathan Blissett, 10. Danilo Orsi-Dadomo, 14. Rohan Ince, 15. Nana Ofori-Twumasi, 16.Ryheem Sheckleford, 19. Ryan Upward, 24. Alan Massey (c).
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Jerry Wiltshire,17. Reece Smith, 22. Josh Kelly.
Yellow Card: Keetch, 88”
TUFC: 1. Shaun MacDonald, 2. Ben Wynter, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall (c) (18. Olaf Koszela, 59′), 10. Armani Little (27. Ryan Law, HT), 11. Jake Andrews, 12. Adam Randell, 16. Sam Sherring, 19. Scott Boden, 25. Billy Waters (35. Josh Umerah, HT) 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 15. Matt Buse, 33. Lucas Covolan Cavagnari (GK).
Yellow Card: Hall, 18′, Andrews, 57′