Upward: Maidenhead paid the price for slow start
Ryan Upward believes Maidenhead United were capable of taking all three points from Bromley at the weekend but admitted the Magpies paid the price for a slow start at Hayes Lane.
United were forced to come back from two goals down to take a share of the spoils on Saturday with Magpies midfielder Upward gifting his side a route back into the game on the 49th minute following a lacklustre first half display.
Maidenhead fought for the leveller thereafter and substitute Jerry Wiltshire was able to complete a thrilling turnaround when he thumped the ball past ‘keeper Cousins on the stroke of full-time.
It was a goal that they certainly deserved, said Upward, given their improvement after the interval.
“If we had matched up against them (Bromley) how we did in the second half right from the start, then we definitely could have taken the win,” he said.
“We weren’t great out of possession in the first half and their two goals came from our own mistakes which was a real kick in the teeth. We sat too deep, invited pressure, and were just too far off them all over the pitch. It came down to how we were set up for the match.
“Incey (Rohan Ince) and I were trying to screen their front men but we were so deep at the same time, we couldn’t engage with our own players.
“The gaffer wasn’t happy with how we were playing at half-time and neither were we. We were going at each other in the changing room and when he came in, he just added to the fire. After that, we changed our approach and we managed to pull two goals back.
“It was nice to get the goal to set us on our way but I didn’t celebrate at all because we were playing poorly and we should never have been in that position. I just had to grab the ball and get play restarted as quick as possible.
“We dominated the second half a lot better and Jerry managed to get the leveller in the 90th minute,” added Upward.
“We still had four minutes after that, and I feel like we could’ve snuck it at the end as we were camping them in their own box, but it just wasn’t to be.”
Upward’s goal was just his second of the season after he opened his account this campaign with an impressive solo effort in the Magpies’ 4-0 victory over Wealdstone on Boxing Day.
Inspired by the players around him at York Road, the 28-year-old is optimistic he can go on to tally up a few more before the end of the season.
“I’ve not had a great scoring tally this year and I think there were two or three games in a row at the beginning of the season where I should’ve scored but didn’t,” he said.
“It dented my confidence to say the least and that’s why I haven’t scored loads. But, the goal against Wealdstone and the header (against Bromley) were both good finishes.
“I’m hoping I can build on it from now and get up the pitch or get forward to help the team move up the table.”
“Last year, no one chipped in with goals and I think that’s why we struggled so much,” added Upward.
“The strikers weren’t scoring enough goals and the midfielders were hardly getting any either.
“This year, we’ve got (Josh) Coley chipping in, Dan (Danilo Orsi-Dadomo) doing well, and
Sam Barratt who’s currently top goalscorer. He hasn’t been around for a few weeks now but we’ve got plenty of goals coming from elsewhere which is good and it’s always positive to have that.
“Hopefully I can step up and start scoring a few more.”