Magpies make a statement: Maidenhead outclass leaders Hornchurch in dominant victory

Maidenhead United 2, Hornchurch 0

‘Ryan Peters’ black and white army’ chorused the Magpies faithful after Maidenhead United deservedly beat league leaders Hornchurch in their first game since the departure of manager Alan Devonshire this afternoon (Saturday).

There was nothing flukey about this result or performance. Hornchurch were simply outplayed from the first to last whistle and Will de Havilland’s first half header, flicked in from a corner, and Jayden Mitchell-Lawson’s curling second in stoppage time were the least the home side deserved.

It could and should have been a more emphatic scoreline for the Magpies, but interim management duo Ryan Peters and Aaron O’Brien will be more than happy with the way their side played, with Peters calling it a ‘statement victory’ after the final whistle.

United had defeated Salisbury 6-0 away from home and Chippenham Town 3-0 at York Road in Devonshire’s final two games as manager, and supporters would have headed to the ground today intrigued to see how the team would get on in his absence.

If there were any concerns, they needn’t have been. The home side shaded the opening stages, playing once again with five in defence and Remy Clerima sweeping just ahead of them in central midfield.

Hornchurch - who put four past Hemel Hempstead to move back on top of the National League South table on Tuesday - couldn’t create anything clear cut or get their usual attacking game going as they were thwarted at every turn.

The visitors created the game’s first real chance in the 13th minute, when a loose back pass from Matt Robinson almost presented a very good opportunity for Angelo Balanta, but the Hornchurch forward was forced to cut back before taking his shot and De Havilland bravely blocked his attempt on goal.

United had the ball in the back of the net a few minutes later but it was ruled out for a pull from Josh Umerah. The hosts worked the ball well to Jordon Ragguette on the left and his low cross in was spilled into the area where Liam Dulson was lurking to tuck home, but Umerah was adjudged to have pulled back his man, who may have been able to stop Dulson from tapping home.

The goal their overall play just about deserved arrived in the 24th minute though. Josh Popoola swung in a corner from the left and De Havilland rose highest to flick the ball across Arthur Nasta and into the far corner of the net.

From that moment on, you sensed the Magpies had control of the contest and they should possibly have scored a second before the interval. Dulson raced onto a lovely threaded pass from Ragguette on the half-hour and created a decent chance for Clerima on the edge of the area, but his attempt was blocked and the visitors cleared.

Robinson also tested Nasta with a curling free kick from the edge of the area, but the Urchins’ keeper was alive to the danger and pushed it behind for another corner.

Umerah will still be wondering how he didn’t make it 2-0 to the hosts in the 37th minute, when Popoola did brilliantly to get away from his man and swung in a low cross that was begging to be tapped home. Unfortunately, the United striker got his legs in a tangle or ran ahead of the cross and somehow failed to get any connection on the ball with the goal begging.

Into the second half and the chances continued to come Maidenhead’s way as Hornchurch threw caution to the wind a little more and left fewer bodies back to defend against the Magpies’ counters.

Dulson forced Nasta into a comfortable save in the 47th minute after being played in by Robinson, before Clerima saw his effort deflected just wide of the post a few minutes later.

Owen Cochrane came to the Magpies rescue in the 54th minute as he cleared Junior Morias’ header off the goalline with Jordi Van Stappershoef finally beaten, but it was Maidenhead who continued to look the more likely scorers. In the 68th minute, the referee Daniel Baines pointed to the spot after Dulson was nudged off the ball in the area before changing his mind after consulting with his assistant.

If anything, the injustice of that decision seemed to fire the Magpies up more. Dulson and Popoola both stung the palms of Nasta with powerful strikes from distance, while Umerah also fired over the bar first time with Hornchurch seemingly on the ropes.

Nasta denied Popoola again in the 79th minute after the Magpies again won the ball back in midfield and the forward surged into the area.

Harry Pritchard came on to make his first competitive appearance for many months as he was changed for Popoola in the 81st minute. 

Dulson was then denied by a brilliant sliding tackle just when it seemed he would finally finish off Hornchurch’s challenge in the 85th minute, while substitute Mitchell-Lawson curled another decent opening just wide of Nasta’s upright in the 89th minute.

When seven minutes of stoppages were put on the board, you wondered whether the Magpies would rue their missed opportunities. But in the first of those minutes, Mitchell-Lawson picked up the ball in a very similar position on the edge of the area and - having had one sighter to test his aim - this time he fired home past Nasta to confirm a richly deserved victory.

The win lifts Maidenhead to 10th in the table, four points off the top seven ahead of their next league game at Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday.

Before that they’ll take on Reading’s u21s in the quarter finals of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup at York Road on Tuesday evening.