Maidenhead United leave it late as Robinson downs Tonbridge in injury time

Matt Robinson celebrates his late winner. Credit: MUFC

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Tonbridge Angels 0, Maidenhead United 1

Matt Robinson headed home a stoppage time winner as Maidenhead United defeated Tonbridge Angels 1-0 at Longmead Stadium to move within four points of the play-off places.

After three league matches without a victory, the Magpies desperately needed a pick-me-up, and Robinson was on hand to deliver it in the 94th minute when he rose highest to head home Josh Popoola’s free kick.

Interim boss Ryan Peters had been ‘absolutely livid’ to see his Magpies side throw away two points in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Farnborough; however, his mood will have been lifted significantly by the Magpies’ last-gasp winner at Tonbridge.

The result revives the side’s play-off ambitions, with United moving up to eighth in the table - now just four points behind seventh placed Hemel Hempstead Town. They also have a game in hand on three of the four sides just above them in the table and the two sides directly below them.

This may not have been the Magpies finest away display of the season, but points are far more important than performances at this stage of the season and Peters will hope they can play their way back into form off the back of this win.

Saturday will be a truer test of their promotion credentials, however, with United set to visit league leaders Torquay United.

Having passed up three opportunities to claim maximum points from their matches at Chesham United, Ebbsfleet United and home to Farnborough on Saturday, the margins for error were decreasing in the side’s fight for a play-off finish.

United announced two new signings before kick-off, with Cameron Eubank joining on loan from Birmingham City until the end of the season and Dillon De Silva also joining on loan from Sutton United.

Both were named on the bench at Tonbridge with the starting XI unchanged from Saturday’s draw with Farnborough.

It took a while for the visitors to gain a foothold in the match with Manny Onariase connecting with a Jayden Mitchell-Lawson corner in the 15th minute but unable to find the target.

The slippery conditions weren’t aiding either side and Jordi Van Stappershoef had to be alert to keep out an unorthodox attempt from Jordan Thompson in the 23rd minute.

United were forced into an unwanted change when Will de Havilland picked up an injury and was replaced by Miles Welch-Hayes just after the half-hour mark. The Magpies had a couple of pot shots in the closing stages, with Asher Yearwood sending his effort over and Liam Dulson seeing his sweetly struck volley blocked. But aside from that late promise the visitors had been largely shackled by the Angels.

The second half was more entertaining, and Tonbridge had the better of the first part of it. Van Stappershoef got down sharply to deny Ricky Korboa in the 51st minute before Onariase slid in to make a vital block from Frankie Baker, with the goal seemingly at his mercy in the 60th minute.

Umerah then crashed a free kick off the crossbar as the Magpies belatedly came back into the contest.

Cameron Eubank and Dillon De Silva were both introduced as Peters rolled the dice for the final 20 minutes. They had the better of the closing stages with Onariase heading off target in the 75th minute and substitute Sam Barratt stinging the palms of Shala in the 84th.

Tonbridge might have won it when Van Stappershoef made a vital scrambling save from a corner in the 93rd minute, before the Magpies made the most of their late set piece when Robinson headed home Popoola’s free kick at the death.