United handle the Glovers
Maidenhead United FC: Magpies respond well to FA Cup defeat with resilient display against Yeovil Town
Defender Will De Havilland’s harsh dismissal in Saturday’s FA Cup first round defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge led to a frustrated Alan Devonshire having words with the referee’s assessor, but the Maidenhead boss was much more content with his side’s hard-working display in Tuesday’s goalless draw at Yeovil Town.
The Magpies made the long midweek trip without several of their more creative players - including Sam Barratt - but they worked hard to nullify their hosts and might, on another night, have picked up all three points rather than one.
The result keeps the Magpies on course for survival this season and lifts them to 14th in the table - six points off the relegation zone and seven points off the play-offs - ahead of Saturday’s trip to another of their relegation rivals, Aldershot Town.
Reflecting on Tuesday’s committed display, Devonshire said: “Yeah, at the end of the day we played well. We were the better side most of the time and I was very pleased with the performance.
“It was especially difficult after also making the long trip to Wrexham last week, when we got back at 2.30am in the morning. Some of the boys were tired but I’m pleased with their efforts.
“We wanted three points of course but if you can’t get the win you take the draw.”
The Magpies’ last three trips to Huish Park have all resulted in goalless draws, with the teams tending to cancel each other out. Yeovil have
brought in new manager Mark Cooper and several new players, but they were unable to unpick a solid Magpies backline that featured Dan Gyollai following his return from suspension.
United made the trip without De Havilland following Saturday’s red card but weren’t unduly troubled by the Glovers.
“I don’t know why (these matches are low scoring). Perhaps we counteract each other or something, but even though they have a new manager and new players we managed to stifle them and played some good stuff ourselves at times.
“We want to attack as much as we can, but you have to start from your
defence if you want to get results. You can’t go gung-ho and play three or four up because you’ll get beat 3-0. There’s no point in doing that, so it must be done in a different way.
“These games are often tight. Sometimes you get an early goal, and it opens up a bit more, but look at Solihull Moors last night. They lost 1-0 to Halifax with all their goal scorers.
“We know that we’re lacking a goal scorer and it’s something we’re trying to look at, but there’s no point of just getting someone in for the sake of it. We’ll continue to try and be solid because successful sides don't concede many goals.”
Maidenhead's long wait for a place in the second round of the FA Cup is now 136 years and counting, but the officials hardly helped their chances of ending that run in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Dagenham. Having allowed the dust to settle on the Magpies exit, Devonshire said: “Without a doubt Will’s (De Havilland) sending off had an impact. We were getting on top, and I fancied our chances.
“I spoke to the assessor afterwards and he said he couldn’t believe the decision and felt their right back should have been sent off just after half-time for going through Ash (NathanielGeorge) for a second time. That would have meant they were down to 10 men.
“The referee didn't help us at all, but I’ve got to be careful about what I say.
“The second yellow is very harsh. He was running back and didn't even look at the ball. As he's running back it’s hit his hand, but I’m getting really frustrated with it.
“We had a situation with Dan (Gyollai) when he was sent off against Solihull because these things are costing us. It was a tight game, and we were just starting to get some momentum going, and then that happens.”
The Magpies play again on Tuesday evening when they host local rivals Slough Town in the first round of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup. A home tie with Marlow lies in wait for the winners.
Devonshire added: “It’s very low on my priorities. It’s a game we don't need at the moment, but it will be the players who haven't had minutes that will play.”