GOALLESS DRAW IS MAID TO MEASURE

HONOURS were shared between two sides in desperate need of a win as Maidenhead United and Maidstone were frozen out at a chilly York Road.

The Magpies are without a win in the league since October 24, while Jay Saunders’ Stones had conceded 12 times in three straight defeats.

However, both sides had their chances in a match that was more entertaining than the scoreline suggests.

Joe Pigott carried the greatest threat for the Stones, and he almost got them rolling when his 37thminute free-kick bounced off the post and away to safety.

If he was the stand-out man for Maidstone, Harry Pritchard held that honour for the Magpies. He was at the heart of all their good moves and may well have dragged Alan Devonshire’s side to a win on another afternoon.

Pritchard lifted a shot over the bar in the 10th minute and saw his half-volley brush the post in the 40th. He then almost put the Magpies in 1-0 up at the break when he latched onto Christian Smith’s pass and thundered the ball just wide.

Chances flowed at both ends after the break – Jake Hyde bringing out the best in Maidstone keeper Lee Worgan with a diving headeron the hour, while Pigott then came close to winning it for the Stones with a shot that curled just wide in ten minutes from time.

Maidstone tried everything to find a winner – even diving with Stewart Lewis booked for simulation by referee Adrian Quelch in an attempt to earn his side a late penalty.

Stones boss Saunders said: “This is a real tough place to come and there are a lot of teams that have come here and dropped points. The most pleasing thing for me today was the clean sheet. Were we at our best? No, but after three games where we’ve conceded 12 goals it was just important that we got the clean sheet.

“It wasn’t the best game but there were some good chances and some good saves.”

Maidenhead boss Alan Devonshire refused to talk to the press afterwards.