Late pressure pays off with injury-time winner
Maidenhead United FC: Kelly scores 16th of the season to seal win at The Crabble
Dover Athletic 0, Maidenhead United 1 Josh Kelly netted a 92nd minute winner as Maidenhead United’s second half pressure finally paid off against already relegated Dover Athletic at The Crabble.
It had looked like the Magpies would be held to a second straight goalless draw – after Tuesday’s frustrating stalemate with Wealdstone – but United’s leading scorer Kelly fired home the game’s only goal in the final seconds.
For much of the match, United had been thwarted by an exceptional goalkeeping display from Alexis Andre.
The Whites' keeper had performed heroics throughout the second half, as the Magpies stepped up the pressure in search of an opener. He made a series of super saves, including one to deny Shawn McCoulsky just two minutes from time.
But his good work was undone when the Magpies launched one final attack, and the broke for Kelly in the six-yard box who fired home unerringly.
By that stage, the Whites were down to 10 men after Luke Baptiste was sent off for a second bookable offence with
five minutes to play. His dismissal gave the Magpies the impetus they needed to go on and claim all three points, however, in truth, the game should have been put to bed before he was given his marching orders.
The first half was an even affair with few notable chances, however, the Magpies looked marginally more threatening. However, the visitors were much improved after the interval, carving out a series of good chances but Andre was equal to them all until Kelly popped up with the late winner. The Whites keeper gathered in a low strike from Kane Ferdinand in the 58th minute, while McCoulsky – a half-time substitute for Acquah – went close in the 68th minute but the angle was just a little too acute to get his shot on target.
The visitors came close to breaking the deadlock in the 74th minute when both McCoulsky and Kelly were presented with excellent chances, however, Andre made sprawling saves to deny them both. He then palmed out another attempt from McCoulsky in the 77th minute and Kelly fired over the bar from an Adams’ corner a minute later. An incredible diving save from Andre denied McCoulsky the winner in the 88th minute but the Magpies didn’t give up and Kelly won it at the death when he found the net with his second goal in three matches.