Magpies able to Suppress Shots
Maidenhead United FC: Alan Devonshire's men settle for a point
Maidenhead United 2, Aldershot Town 2
A sumptuous Dan Sparkes free kick and Emile Acquah's powerful header helped Maidenhead United stretch their unbeaten run to six league matches as Aldershot Town fought back to share the spoils on bank holiday Monday.
Approaching this clash, Maidenhead's penultimate home game of the season, both sides would have been confident of victory, with the Magpies unbeaten in the league since April 2, and Mark Molesley’s side securing survival with a surprise 3-1 win over high-flying Notts County on Saturday.
However, despite dominating the first half and seeing a perfectly good third goal ruled out as the officials didn't think the whole of the ball had crossed the line, honours were even at the full-time whistle.
The Shots twice pegged back their hosts courtesy of goals scored by Sinclair Armstrong in the first and Harrison Panayiotou 10 minutes from time.
It took just four minutes for the Hampshire-based outfit to chalk up a chance, as Tommy Willard got his foot onto Colin Daniel’s low cross at the back post before being stifled by George Wells.
A series of fouls would follow next before the Magpies registered their first shot, but they certainly made it count in the game’s 25th minute. From a free kick won by Shawn McCoulsky on the edge of the area, Sparkes curled the ball into the back of the net superbly.
The ensuing celebrations of the home support were muted swiftly, however, when Armstrong restored parity immediately from the restart after being presented oneon-one with Dan Gyollai.
Wells offered his services down the other end of the pitch next, whipping in a delightful ball for Acquah to attack only for Ryan Hall to vitally tip the ball over the
crossbar with good reflexes.
But, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again and Acquah did just that from the subsequent corner in the 34th minute. Assisted by Sparkes, the forward directed this header past Hall to send the Magpies’ faithful wild once more.
It could’ve quite easily been 3-1 to the home side just moments later when a defender's backwards header sent the ball trickling towards the goal line with Hall nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, for the stopper, it bounced off the post and a covering defender managed to hack the ball off the line, however, most fans packed behind the goal thought it had crossed the line and post-match photographic evidence would appear to back them up on that.
Devonshire’s men were good value for their lead at the break and, had they maintained their intensity, could have extended their advantage. Yet, it was the visitors who controlled the majority of the second half.
Only four minutes in and six yards out, Willard had the first sight of goal after the interval but sliced his shot wide of the woodwork under little to no pressure from any man in black and white.
After withstanding a spell of attacking advances, the Magpies finally got their foot on the ball with Brad Keetch agonisingly rattling the left post from outside the box.
But they were ultimately powerless to prevent the Shots levelling the game with 10 minutes remaining, as Panayiotou looped the ball over Gyollai with an instinctive finish.
The ‘keeper did have the final say, however, when he got his fingertips to Mo Bettamer’s late header which ensured the spoils would be shared.
Next up for Maidenhead United is a trip to sixth-placed Grimsby Town on Saturday, May 7, 3pm kick-off.