Magpies left baffled as controversial late penalty denies victory over Bees

Maidenhead United's players were left baffled by a controversial late penalty decision which robbed them of a hardearned three points on Saturday.

The Magpies had been two-goals to the good midway through the second half after Jayden Mitchell-Lawson made the most of an error from Bees’ keeper Josh Keeley to fire them ahead after nine minutes, and substitute Reece Smith turned home Shawn McCoulsky's low cross to make it 2-0 just before the hour mark.

But their hopes of victory evaporated in the closing stages, thanks to a stirring fightback from the Bees, ignited by the substitution of former Magpies favourite Harry Pritchard and Idris Kanu, and the controversial awarding of an injury-time penalty which Nicke Kabamba swept home for his 50th goal for the club.

The result kept the Magpies five points above the drop zone, while Barnet moved five points clear of thirdplaced Bromley in their efforts to finish the season second to champions Chesterfield.

United gave a lot to this game – and they may well look back on it as another crucial point in their battle to stay in the division.

But it felt like two points dropped after a backs-to-the-wall defensive display in the latter stages of the second half went unrewarded.

They were desperately holding onto their slender advantage as the game moved into stoppage-time and there was a sigh of relief when Kabamba rose well at the back post but headed wide of the target.

However, those sighs quickly turned to groans when supporters realised referee Aaron Jackson had pointed to the spot.

There was general confusion as to what for. Was it for holding back Kabamba? Was it for a handball?

But the official stood by his decision and Kabamba kept his cool to leather the ball past Craig Ross in the 93rd minute.

Barnet made a sprightly start with Callum Stead and Kabamba both being sent through on goal in the opening minutes, only for Ross to race out and deny them.

At the other end, Keeley wasn’t so self-assured and in the ninth minute, he got a rush of blood to the head as he raced out of his area, losing the ball to Tristan Abrahams.

The striker's shot at goal was blocked but fell kindly to Mitchell-Lawson who took a couple of touches before sweeping the ball into the empty net.

They should really have had a twogoal cushion at the interval when Shawn McCoulsky was ruled offside as he tapped home Ashley NathanielGeorge’s goal bound strike in the 33rd minute. Had the striker left the ball alone, it would surely have nestled into the back of the net after great work from Nathaniel-George to beat his man and fire past Keeley.

McCoulsky made amends in the 57th minute when he collected Abraham’s clever lay-off and beat a couple of Bees players before putting the ball on a plate for Smith to tap home Maidenhead’s second.

Dean Brennan’s side were revived when Kanu and Pritchard were brought on in the 66th minute. Their introduction saw the Bees go up a gear and in the 71st minute they got back in the contest when Dale Gordon’s corner was flicked on by Adam Thomson and Callum Stead side-footed home.

Mitchell-Lawson should have finished off the Bees challenge when the Magpies broke up field in the 84th minute through Smith, and Abrahams helped the ball on for the unmarked Mitchell-Lawson, but he shot straight at Keeley with the goal at his mercy and the Bees survived.

It proved a costly miss as Kabamba made the Magpies pay deep into stoppage time with the huge helping hand of referee Aaron Jackson's harsh penalty decision.