Magpies hit Salisbury for six as Devonshire nears emotional farewell

Alan Devonshire following the final whistle at Salisbury

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Salisbury 0, Maidenhead United 6

Maidenhead United got their season back on track in spectacular style at Salisbury last night (Tuesday), scoring six unanswered goals in their first match since manager Alan Devonshire announced he would be stepping down.

United have been in an awful run of form of late, losing seven of their last eight matches in all competitions, but Devonshire’s decision to step away from his role - after a glorious decade in charge - appeared to cut the shackles that have been dragging the team down of late.

Playing with a new freedom - and perhaps with the determination to give their manager the send-off he deserves - they got at Salisbury from the first whistle and blew their opponents away with a second half goal glut.

At the final whistle, Devonshire looked relaxed as he took the acclaim of the travelling fans and his team had looked relaxed and totally  at ease as they swept aside their hosts in commanding fashion. 

The result sees the Magpies move back up to 14th in the table, now just six points off the play-off places, and the hope will be that they can build on this result when Chippenham Town come to York Road on Saturday. That will be Devonshire’s last game in the dugout as manager, with Ryan Peters and Aaron O’Brien set to take over as manager and assistant manager in the interim at least.

In his penultimate game as boss, Devonshire made one change to the starting line up with Josh Popoola returning in place of Kai Yearn. It proved a masterstroke with Popoola netting twice in this unexpected rout at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium.

After a cagey opening 15 minutes which saw Matt Robinson fire over for the visitors and Josh Hedges bend a decent chance over for Salisbury, United took the lead when Josh Umerah teed up Popoola for a left-footed shot that flew into the far corner of the net.

Having scored just three goals in their last eight matches, few of the travelling supporters would have predicted what happened next. Instead of defending that lead, the Magpies kicked on, with Popoola teeing up Liam Dulson for their second in the 23rd minute. The returning forward beat his marker with a great piece of skill before whipping in a low ball that Dulson crashed home.

Jordi Van Stappershoef and Manny Onariase made smothering saves and goalbound blocks to preserve the two-goal cushion through to half-time and maintain the Magpies’ momentum.

In truth they never looked like relinquishing it, with Owen Cochrane setting up the visitors third with an inch perfect ball for Dulson who swept in a cross that Umerah tapped home in the 51st minute.

Three up but there were three more to come for the rampant Magpies. Captain Will de Havilland got in on the act in the 55th minute, getting the faintest of touches to Popoola’s pass with the ball bouncing in off the post.

Not content with a goal and two assists, Popoola then helped himself to a second goal when he swivelled on the penalty spot and fired home to make it 5-0 in the 63rd minute. United had scored three goals in 12 minutes to take the game well out of Salisbury’s reach, but they weren’t done there. Noah Stewart was brought on as a second half substitute for Dulson and he scored his first league goal for the club when he broke clear of the home side’s defence and coolly beat the keeper to make it 6-0 in the 83rd minute.

Remy Clerima might have added a seventh with a goal of the season contender in the closing stages, but the Magpies and Devonshire - who was serenaded by the travelling fans throughout - were happy enough with six.

It’s their biggest win of the season so far and one of their biggest league wins of Devonshire’s tenure!

Afterwards the club thanked the travelling fans for their support, and it’s hoped a large crowd will turn out at York Road on Saturday to see Devonshire’s last match in charge against Chippenham Town.