COOK’S MEN SOLDIER ON DESPITE BIG DALLAS MISS
MAIDENHEAD United deservedly held promotion chasers Chesterfield to a goalless draw at York Road in an evenly contested affair that was more entertaining than the scoreline suggests.
The point pulled the Spireites level on points with Woking in third, although Paul Cook’s men failed to build on their three-game winning run.
“We’re disappointed,” Cook said. “We felt we did enough to win the game but credit to Maidenhead. They’re very good at what they do and Alan (Devonshire) deserves so much credit. It’s a tough place to come, teams don’t come and win games here.”
Cook should have been celebrating a fourth straight win when new signing Andrew Dallas seized upon a mistake from covering defender Sam Beckwith, carried the ball around goalkeeper Alexis
Andre Jr but inexplicably failed to roll the ball into the open goal.
“Dallo (Dallas) will be disappointed with that (chance). They’re the moments where we trust our players, but he’s only been in the club a minute and he hasn’t got used to playing with players yet.”
Up until that point, the Spireites had created the better openings, but diligent defending from the hosts saw them weather the storm and get themselves back on an even keel.
Dallas clipped an effort onto the top of the crossbar from right on the byline before Ryan Colclough twice escaped into dangerous positions in the box, and forced a fine reaction save at his near post from Andre Jr with the follow-up.
The Spirerites then sliced the Magpies’ defence open with a clever corner routine, only for Colclough to see his side-footed effort from inside the box blocked by Will De Havilland.
The game then exploded into life at the start of the second period during a spell which saw both sides miss open goals with Dallas’ miss coming two minutes after a similar faux pas from the home side – Shawn McCoulsky somehow blazing over from 10 yards after Emile Acquah’s sliding effort had left the goal gaping.
Maidenhead missed another glorious chance just before the hour mark, when McCoulsky got to the ball ahead of goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons and pulled back a cross for Acquah who flicked the ball wide on the half-volley with the Spirerites’ goal again unguarded.
Magpies assistant boss Ryan Peters said: “We had two very good chances in the second half. Shawn misses an open goal, but the ball comes to him quite quickly.
“You would expect him to put the ball in the back of the net. We’ve had some good chances against a very good side, and compared to last week against Dorking, it’s a much better team performance.”
STAR MAN: Zico Asare (Maidenhead) ATT: 1,555 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Gary Parsons