United 1
(Lewis 90′)
Maidenhead 1
(Barratt 56′)
United came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Maidenhead United at Plainmoor on Saturday afternoon.
Sam Barratt fired Maidenhead into the lead in the 56th minute before Joe Lewis levelled the scores in the final minute of normal time.
United manager Gary Johnson named one change in the starting eleven that slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Grimsby last weekend, with Ali Omar coming into the back four in place of Dean Moxey.
Sam Barratt had the first chance on the game on 3 minutes when he drove forward before his low driven effort from just inside the left-edge of the box was wide of the post, and into the arms of Shaun MacDonald.
In the 7th minute a great run down the left by Connor Lemonheigh-Evans saw the midfielder cut into the left side of the Maidenhead box and opted to try to square the ball for Armani Little which was intercepted but fell for Danny Wright whose effort was blocked before being cleared by the visiting defence.
Four minutes later Little tried to chip the ball up for an advancing Dan Martin in the centre, but a black and white shirt was able to safely head the ball back to Dániel Gyollai.
Gary Johnson’s side went close again on 21 minutes. Some good build-up play between Little and Lemonheigh-Evans ended with the latter being fouled just outside the left edge of the box. Little’s resulting free kick found Ali Omar at the far post, but his half-volley was just over.
In the 30th minute Little stepped up to take a free kick level with the penalty spot outside the left side of the Maidenhead box. He curled his effort towards the near-post to be denied by Gyollai. Three minutes later it was United who went close again. Stephen Duke-McKenna did well to cut in from the right before feeding Wright, whose low driven effort was blocked.
In the 42nd minute it was the visiting side who went close after a low-driven shot from George Wells had to be parried by MacDonald; Ben Wynter responded down the other end two minutes later with a similar strike, forcing Gyollai to save.
Despite enjoying many chances and most of the possession, United went into half time 0-0.
There was controversy four minutes into the half after Omar was brought down in the Maidenhead box with United fans appealing for a penalty, but instead the referee pulled out a yellow card for the United centre-back.
On 56 minutes it was Maidenhead who broke the deadlock. Barratt drove into the left edge of the United box before looping the ball over a yellow shirt before volleying into the roof of the net.
Gary Johnson’s side responded five minutes later and went close to levelling the scores. Martin and Asa Hall linked up down the left flank before Martin’s cross found Wright at the far post, whose header was tipped over the bar by Gyollai.
United continued to pressure the Maidenhead defence and in the 70th minute Wright drove down the centre before playing Tom Lapslie through on goal who was denied by the ‘keeper.
Gary Johnson’s side levelled through Lewis as the fourth official signalled five minutes of additional time. A corner from Little was headed back towards the near post, and was headed towards the back post by Wynter for Lewis who headed home, 1-1.
The men in yellow continued to press on for a winner in the five additional minutes. substitute Klaidi Lolos found himself through on goal, but his cross-shot was well blocked by Gyollai, before moments later a header from Wright heading towards the top right corner was forced away by Maidenheads number one, forcing United to settle for a point.
United: 37. Shaun MacDonald, 2. Ben Wynter, 3. Dan Martin (16. Keelan O’Connell 72′), 4. Tom Lapslie, 5. Ali Omar (19. Klaidi Lolos 90+1′), 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall (c), 9. Danny Wright, 10. Armani Little, 15. Stephen Duke-McKenna (14. Chiori Johnson 72′), 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Mark Halstead, 27. Opi Edwards.
Yellow Cards: Omar 49′
Maidenhead: 1. Dániel Gyollai 2. Jack Wakely 3. George Wells, 8. Shaun Donnellan 9. Nathan Blissett 10. Kane Ferdinand 16. Ryheem Sheckleford (11. Daniel Sparkes 73′), 19. Ryan Upward 24. Alan Massey (c), 25. Sam Barratt (17. Reece Smith 82′), 27. Charlee Adams.
SUBS NOT USED: 12. Bradley Keetch, 18. Emile Acquah, 20. Shawn McCoulsky.
Attendance: 2,148 (70 away)