Maidenhead United suffer 2-1 defeat to Chesham United in first game

Maidenhead United suffered a disappointing home defeat in their first game in the Enterprise National League South today (Saturday).

The Magpies were given a lifeline through a debut goal by new signing Josh Umerah but still ended up on the backfoot with a 2-1 loss to Chesham United at York Road.

Alan Devonshire’s side were unbeaten in their pre-season matches, but a team with nine new players failed to click on the opening day of the new season against a side who finished midtable in the division last season.

Maidenhead had a promising start, winning a number of set pieces.

Sam Barratt glanced a header wide at the far post following a cross from the left-hand side.

For Chesham, former Magpie Samson Esan hammered his shot over the top, under pressure from Will De Havilland.

Twenty-five minutes into the game, the visitors had taken the lead over Maidenhead United.

The Magpies will feel they had chances to clear in the build up before a ball across goal from the left was picked up by an unmarked Omar Rowe at the far post and he pulled it back to set up Alfie Young to bring it home.

There was a scare a few minutes later when Jordi Van Stappershoef in the Magpies goal dropped a routine looking cross, and in gaining the loose ball, caused Chesham to appeal for a penalty kick.

By this stage, the Magpies were looking well off the pace, pinned back in their own half for long periods and it was only a long ball chased by Liam Dulson that gave the hosts a bit of respite as a desperate clearance rebounded off a Chesham player to safety.

Maidenhead could have been level by the break, but Dulson’s effort through a crowd of players was cleared off the line.

The early stages of the second half were largely similar, with Chesham showcasing their threat as Esan easily beat De Havilland on the byline and his cross was put behind for a corner.

It took the Magpies until the hour mark to register another shot on goal, with Manny Onariase seeing his shot gathered by the Generals goalkeeper Ben Goode right on the goal line.

Following this, Maidenhead enjoyed much of the play, with Umerah failing to bundle the ball across the line after Asher Yearwood’s freekick was nodded across the goal by Onariase.

The equaliser came with 18 minutes remaining on the clock as Umerah steered home Yearwood’s cross at the near post, but there was another twist to come in this match.

Perhaps fired up by the dismissal of a member of their coaching team for his protests to the referee, Chesham went up a gear and substitute Giorgio Rasulo’s shot from range was scrambled away by Van Stappershoef.

With minutes remaining, Chesham accepted the three points gift-wrapped as Van Stappershoef failed to catch a corner cleanly and the loose ball fell to General's skipper Callum Adebiyi to rifle it home into an empty net.

The Magpies made desperate attempts to save the game, with Onariase nodding a long throw from Barratt at Goode, before the Chesham goalkeeper saved a low drive from Umerah after substitute Corie Andrews had stretched the hard-working Chesham backline.

But ultimately, the game ended in a defeat for the Magpies.

The Magpies were Van Stappershoef, Bartley, Ragguette, De Havilland, Yearwood (sub Robinson at ’86), Ferdinand, Umerah, Dulson (sub Andrews ’81), Cochrane (sub Popoola ’55), Barratt, and Onariase.

Maidenhead substitutes not used were Collins, Mitchell-Lawson, McMenemy and Dundas.

The defeat leaves the Magpies in 21st position in the table after one game.

The side will face Enfield Town away on Saturday, August 16 (kick-off 3pm).

Elsewhere, Flackwell Heath and Marlow were also kicking off their seasons in the Southern League Central Division One. 

Flackwell Heath were victorious at Wilks Park today against the London Lions as Jabir Laraba put two goals away in the 13th and 53rd minutes.

Matty Ayres also hit the back of the net in the 33rd minute and Jack Shakespeare’s effort was also rewarded in the 61st minute.

The game finished 4-0 to Flackwell Heath.

The Heathens will face Beaconsfield Town away in the Division One Central league next on Wednesday, August 13 from 7.45pm.

Marlow lost 2-0 in their opener away to Barton Rovers, following two goals from Albie Mitchell Hall in the fourth minute and 79th minute.

The Blues will play Aylesbury United FC at home on Tuesday, August 12 at 7.45pm.

The results currently see Flackwell Heath sitting at the top of the table with three points and Marlow in 18th position with zero points.

In the Combined Counties League Premier Division North, Holyport celebrated a 2-1 victory over Edgware & Kingsbury away at the Silver Jubilee Stadium, with Andy Forisky hitting the back of the net in the 16th and 33rd minutes.

Youssef Enager’s effort also proved successful for The Wares in the second half, but ultimately the game finished with a win for Holyport, who had suffered a 4-0 defeat to Wokingham Town on Tuesday, July 29.

Holyport will play Amersham at home at Summerleaze on Saturday, August 16 (kick-off 3pm).

The win leaves Holyport in 15th position in the table with three points after two games.