WHITEHALL STANDING PROUD FOR BOSS DEV
DANNY Whitehall’s double downed the Spitfires after the Magpies overcame Eastleigh at York Road.
The result condemns Eastleigh to a fourth straight league defeat whilst Devonshire’s men leapfrog their rivals into 18th place.
Talented centre-back Rob Atkinson, back on loan at Eastleigh from Oxford United, was straight back in the Spitfires lineup but ensured a nightmare return as he gave away an early penalty for a foul on Josh Kelly.
Whitehall was the man to step up and he coolly slotted the spot-kick past Max Stryjek to give the Magpies a dream start inside seven minutes.
Just minutes later, Kelly looked likely to fire in a second for Maidenhead when he found himself with the ball just outside the box. But the forward was swiftly dispossessed by the Eastleigh defence who averted the danger.
The visitors pressed well to search for an immediate equaliser and James Alabi was given a free run into the area after shrugging off Ryheem Sheckleford, but Joe Ellul put in a strong tackle to prevent the forward from pulling the trigger.
At the other end, Remy Clerima was able to slip Kelly in inside the penalty area but the striker just clipped his shot wide off the post.
The strength of Alabi continued to prove a handful for Massey and Ellul and the Eastleigh forward had the power to strike a snap-shot just over the woodwork.
But, just over half an hour, Whitehall doubled his own and Maidenhead’s advantage with a great team goal after Kelly found Whitehall at the back post who was there to poach his second goal.
Alabi had a great chance to pull one back for the Spitfires shortly after when he found himself one-on-one with Taye Ashby Hammond, but the Magpies keeper stood firm to deny him.
The Magpies threatened again with a freekick just outside the box with Whitehall firmly positioned to try his luck. But frustratingly, the striker just put the shot wide and the Magpies entered the break with just the 2-0 advantage.
Chances were at a premium in the second half but on the hour, Eastleigh sub Jake Scrimshaw had a glaring opportunity to open his account for the club but his effort flew high over the crossbar.
That aside, chances were few and far between and the Magpies were able to close out the second period with relative ease.
“I’m delighted, there was a lot of pressure on us today and they delivered the goods,” said Magpies boss Alan Devonshire.
But Eastleigh manager Ben Strevens added: “We needed to be more clinical. We had very good chances but we did not capitalise on them.”