There’s plenty to Smile about
MAIDENHEAD United continued their impressive start to the campaign with a fourth win from six games, while inflicting a first home defeat on former Football League side Yeovil Town.
After a goalless first half, the Berkshire side went ahead on 56 minutes as Josh Smile’s free-kick was deflected past home goalkeeper Stuart Nelson by Glovers striker Myles Hippolyte.
Nelson prevented the visitors doubling their lead when he saved a penalty from Jake Cassidy but with six minutes left Maidenhead did make it 2-0 when Danny Whitehall struck from distance.
Yeovil set up a grandstand finish when sub Rhys Murphy teed up Courtney Duffus to score from close range, but the home side were unable to find an equaliser.
Maidenhead assistant
boss Ryan Peters was delighted with his side’s third successive win – but also urged a note of caution.
Peters said: “We’re pleased to get another win and it’s a great start to the season but we won’t be getting carried away.
“Our target is still to get to 50 points to make sure we remain at this level next season and we won’t be changing that target.
“We’re on 13 points and we want to get to 50 as quickly as possible, that’s the magic number for us and that is our only focus.
“We looked at our early fixtures and looked at coming to a big club like Yeovil and knew our attitude had to be right to get results like this.
“We have to keep going now because I believe that with this group there is nothing they cannot do.”
Yeovil boss Darren Sarll has now seen the Glovers lose back-to-back matches to leave the National League newcomers sitting in mid-table.
He said: “I think we will have to get used to teams coming here, seeing us as a big club and not really taking part in the game.
“They didn’t join in, sat off, slowed it down and fell over a lot to win free-kicks. We want to play quickly but the game just died.
“We were incredibly naive to their tactics and I thought the referee was naive to their tactics but we are going to have to get used to it and find a way to handle it.
“Today some of our lads couldn’t handle the pressure.”
After an even first half, Maidenhead took the lead on 56 minutes when Smile curled a free-kick at goal and Hippolyte’s touch took it past Nelson.
Handball by Carl Dickinson then saw the visitors awarded a penalty, but Nelson made a brilliant save to keep out Cassidy’s spot kick.
Yeovil had a goal from Tom Bradbury from close range ruled out for offside before Whitehall’s low shot from 20 yards crept past Nelson to make it 2-0.
Duffus have the home side hope of salvaging a draw, but Maidenhead held on to maintain their impressive start to the season.