United crash out of Trophy after Yeltz fightback

Maidenhead Utd 1, Halesowen 3 Maidenhead United crashed out of the FA Trophy on Tuesday after Halesowen Town – a side playing three divisions below them in the football pyramid – came from behind at half-time to deservedly beat them 3-1.

The Magpies looked to have one foot in the third round when Danny Whitehall slammed home the impressive James Akintunde’s low cross in the 15th minute. And they really should have added to that lead before and after the half-time interval before the Yeltz began their stunning fight-back.

Whitehall clipped the post with a low shot from another Akintunde centre in the 39th minute while Shamir Fenelon passed up a gilt-edged opportunity to all but book their passage to the next round when he rolled the ball just wide of the post after a swift Magpies counter in the 55th minute minute.

The visitors sensed the Magpies might not be right at it in the second half and they were right. Their equaliser followed minutes later when Paul McCone rose highest in a crowded area to head home Cobourne’s free-kick. The tie was then turned on its head in the 65th minute when the Magpies partially cleared a cross only for Robert Evans to thump a low volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The Magpies response to falling behind was limited and lacklustre, although Halesowen keeper Bunn preserved his side’s lead with a fantastic finger-tip save to keep out Substitute Ryan Upward’s rising shot with around 12 minutes to play.

That was about all Maidenhead had to give and it came as little surprise when a fine Yeltz cross from the right was headed into the net at the far post by substitute McKauley Manning to make it 3-1 with five minutes to play. The management team now has a hell of a job on their hands to raise the players for Saturday’s crunch National League test against Eastleigh at York Road.