Magpies clip the
Maidenhead United FC: Kpekawa outmuscles his markers to head
Maidenhead United 1, Bromley 0
Maidenhead United left it late to claim a well-deserved win over Bromley at York
Road this afternoon, with Cole Kpekawa outmuscling defenders at the back post to stoop and score the game’s only goal in the 85th minute.
After Tuesday’s ill-deserved home defeat to Solihull Moors, United got their just desserts against the Ravens following a much-improved second half display.
In a scrappy first half, both sides had goals ruled out for offside, with Emile Acquah’s flicked finish from Ashley NathanielGeorge’s low cross chalked in the opening minutes before Adam Marriott prodded the ball home later in the half, only to see the linesman’s flag raised once again. The excellent Nathaniel-George was a thorn in Bromley’s side all afternoon down the left flank. Recalled to the starting line-up in place of Sam Barratt he was a constant
menace for the visitor’s rear-guard and the source of Maidenhead’s most enterprising play.
Chances were at a premium in the first 45 minutes, with Acquah coming the closest with a close-range attempt from Reece Smith’s cross that bounced off the woodwork in the 39th minute.
Bromley also had their moments, with Harry Forster brilliantly denied by United’s stand-in stopper, Alexis Andre Jnr, midway through the half, and Ethan Coleman heading Charles Clayden’s cross wide from six yards out.
The home side got themselves back on top in the closing stages of the half, with Nathaniel-George smashing an effort narrowly wide from distance and Charlee Adams curling over the bar after Smith’s crosscome-shot had been palmed out by Bromley keeper Thomas Smith.
Magpies boss Alan Devonshire introduced
Adrian Clifton at half-time for Acquah, but defences remained on top until the 55th minute, when Clifton nodded the ball down for Remy Clerima to lash just wide.
Andre Jnr continued to win his personal duel with Forster, when he saved the attacker’s weak effort in the 57th minute, while Corey Whiteley nearly profited from some uncharacteristically sloppy defending from Will De Havilland, but he prodded wide with just Andre Jnr to beat on the hour mark. It looked like the Magpies’ improved intensity might go unrewarded, after Clifton and Nathaniel-George were both denied by blocks in the space of a few seconds in the 79th minute. But the goal their play deserved eventually arrived in the 86th minute. Adams sent in a searching ball to the far post where Kpekawa had gambled to nod the ball back across Smith and into the bottom corner of the net.
United then held on diligently as Bromley won a succession of late corners, while Andre Jnr tipped over a late header from Byron Webster in the final seconds of the match.
Afterwards, Devonshire said: “It was nice to get what we deserved. It’s nice to win against a decent side today. We have to press and play with energy, but we got that goal in the end and I’m delighted.”
His opposite number, Andy Woodman said: “I’m disappointed because I thought we had the better chances to win that game.
“We’ve dropped off from a set-piece, something that’s become a bit of a habit of late which is a bit worrying. Someone didn’t do their job and he’s (Kpekawa) bended down to head it in.
“I don’t think any game is easy, whether it’s Maidenhead, Notts County, Wrexham, or anyone.
“They’re all hard games and if people don’t do their jobs you’re going to get punished.”