Latics loss drags United into the relegation mire
Maidenhead United FC: Magpies just three points above drop zone with two to play
Just a few weeks ago it looked all but certain Maidenhead United would be playing National League football again next season, however, successive defeats to Torquay United and Oldham Athletic have seen the Magpies sucked right back into the relegation mire. When Chesterfield were held to a creditable, and deserved, goalless draw at York Road on April 1, United were 10 points clear of the bottom four and it seemed they already have enough points in the bank to secure their survival.
They backed that up with an equally impressive 1-1 draw at Solihull Moors on Good Friday, but things have unravelled pretty quickly for Alan Devonshire’s side since then and they're now one of three teams desperately hoping not to fall into the one remaining relegation spot. On their part, the Magpies have hit poor form at the worst possible time, losing 3-1 at home to one of those rivals Torquay United on
Easter Monday, before Saturday’s narrow loss to the Latics at Boundary Park.
After Aldershot’s 1-0 win at Wealdstone on Tuesday, Maidenhead now sit 20th in the table, just three points above fourth-from-bottom Torquay who mercifully were thrashed 5-1 by Chesterfield on Tuesday evening. They’re also level on points with 19th placed York City and, with all three sides having two remaining games, it seems likely that one of York City, Maidenhead or Torquay will be relegated to step two.
Aldershot in 18th are not mathematically safe yet, but should have enough points in the bank. They travel to relegation rivals York on Saturday in a potentially pivotal clash.
United weren’t dreadful at Oldham – the first former Premier League side to drop into non-league football – but they struggled to recover from Alex Reid’s early strike.
There were only three minutes on the clock when
Alan Massey slipped as he went to clear a looped ball over the top and Reid held off his man to blast the ball past Alexis Andre Jr. The Magpies stopper was called into action again in the 14th minute to deny Liam Hogan before Josef Yarney rattled the woodwork on the follow-up for the Latics.
Bassala Sambou’s effort was also stifled by Andre Jr as the home side enjoyed the lion's share of the first half chances.
United responded well at the start of the second half, with Massey hooking an effort just off target. They pushed until the final whistle, with a late header flying just over the woodwork, but ultimately, they didn't do enough to force a much-needed equaliser.
Maidenhead next host fifthplaced Barnet at York Road on Saturday. The Bees secured their play-off place with a 1-0 win over Solihull on Tuesday.