‘We might get a nosebleed if we go up too far’ - Dev
Alan Devonshire joked that Maidenhead United might get a ‘nosebleed’ if they climb the National League table any further after moving three points off the play-off spots with Saturday’s 2-1 win over Eastleigh.
United were once again defensively resilient, but in recent weeks they’ve found a shape and system that gives them more cutting edge in the final third, integrating the likes of Reece Smith and Charlee Adams to good effect.
The excellent and improving Emile Acquah fired them in front with an improvised volley from an Alan Massey header, before Eastleigh – who had more shots on goal across the 90 minutes – were sunk by Smith’s first-time finish from Cole Kpekawa’s pull back in the 56th minute.
United were relatively untroubled for the remainder of the game, holding their enterprising visitors at arm’s length until the second minute of stoppage time, when Massey was forced to clear the ball off his own goal line after former Magpie, Danny Whitehall, had struck the inside of the post.
That makes it three games unbeaten for the Magpies in the National League and they’re up to 12th in the table. How much further they climb – or fall – is down to the players, Devonshire said afterwards, but he clearly feels confident this group of players has enough about them to be challenging in the top half of the table rather than the bottom.
Speaking after the final whistle, he said: “It’s job done.
“I’m delighted. We’ve got something like 27 points which is good. We’re going to get games where we don’t perform, but if they give me everything like they have today, then we won’t be too far away from doing good things.
“This is a new team, and it takes time. We’re still integrating players into it, but we’ve done ok. I thought Eastleigh were also good at times today, and maybe we’ve got away with it at the end, a draw might have been a fair result but listen, I’m delighted for them.
“If that’s what people are saying (Maidenhead deserved to win), we’ll take it. I will always focus on the defensive side of things, but I’m really pleased.”
On Massey’s incredible injurytime clearance, Devonshire added: “It was his fault in the first place that they managed to get the shot in, so, he’s made up for it, but listen, I’m delighted because we’ve got 27 points now.
“It’s up to the players now, how badly do they want to progress and push on. Emile is doing well; it was a really good finish from him, and the kid is getting better and better.
“We’ve also found a little niche position for Reece, to get him on the ball. There’s a nice blend now, but we’re not going to get carried away.
“We’ve got Maidstone away next Saturday and then the following week, Dorking. I don’t know where we are in the league, we’ll get a nosebleed if we go up too far.”