Bush breaks hosts’ steely resolve in the 95th minute
Maidenhead United 2, Bromley 2 Chris Bush fired home a stunning injury-time equaliser as Bromley came from two-goals down to share the spoils with high flying Maidenhead United.
The Magpies held a 2-0 lead early in the second half thanks to Danilo Orsi-Dadomo’s slick firsttime finish and Shaun Donnellan’s thunderbolt on the volley. But Neil Smith’s side responded with two sumptuous strikes of their own to snatch a point.
Reeco Hackett-Fairchild’s thunderous left-footed effort from wide on the right swerved past Taye Ashby-Hammond in the 61st minute before Bush volleyed high past the United keeper from well outside the area in the 95th minute.
It was a game of cracking entertainment and exceptional goals and a draw was just about right on both teams on the balance of play.
There was little indication of what was to come during a cagey opening 20 minutes. Both sides cancelled each other out until the 28th minute when James Alabi cut inside Maidenhead skipper Alan Massey but saw his low strike turned around the post by Ashby-Hammond.
The Magpies grasped the lead a couple of minutes later thanks to the skill and perseverance of
Josh Coley. The front man’s quick feet saw him evade a couple of challenges on the right edge of the area and he had the presence of mind to lift his head and pick out Orsi-Dadomo who side-footed the ball into the bottom corner. With confidence high he had another pop at goal a minute later, but this time the ball flew just over the angle of post and bar.
Massey’s blushes were spared five minutes before the break when his heavy touch let Michael
Cheek run in on goal, but AshbyHammond spread himself well to make the block.
United then made a scintillating start to the second half. Coley’s low shot was half cleared to Donnellan on the edge of the area and his volley arrowed into the top corner, giving Bromley keeper Mark Cousins no chance.
It seemed likely the Magpies would stretch their unbeaten run in the National League to seven matches with another win, but they were stung by another stunner, this time from the boot of Hackett-Fairchild. There looked to be little danger when the wide man picked the ball up on the right touchline but he cut inside his marker and thumped a vicious strike beyond AshbyHammond, the ball moving in the air as it flashed past the keeper.
Galvanised by the goal
Bromley pressed in the final halfhour, but it was the Magpies who carved out the better chances on the break. Coley shot just over after wriggling away from a couple of Bromley challenges on the edge of the area in the 65th minute. He then over hit a cross for Orsi-Dadomo when the striker was unmarked and ready to pounce for a third.
United’s top scorer Sam Barratt had a relatively quiet game by his standards and he missed a glorious chance to kill off Bromley’s challenge in the 80th minute when he failed to get hold of Orsi-Dadomo’s cross and Cousins saved comfortably.
New signing from Cheltenham Alex Addai was brought on for Orsi-Dadomo in the final 10 minutes and looked threatening, but United weren’t able to take full advantage of his positive running and clever touches.
Smith must have thought his luck was out when Massey headed Alabi’s strike off the goalline in injury-time, but there was still time for Bromley to break Maidenhead hearts through Bush’s 95th minute belter.