CHARLEE IS DEV’S ANGEL IN MAGPIES’ BIG MISSION
Ed Duckworth
MAIDENHEAD United look all but certain to be playing National League football again next season after coming from behind to hold play-off contenders Barnet at York Road.
Harry Smith looked like ensuring a tense final day for the Magpies when giving the Bees a 78th-minute lead, but Charlee Adams’ equaliser four minutes later handed Alan Devonshire’s men a vital point.
“I’m proud of the boys,” the uber-cool Magpies boss said. “Everything that could have gone wrong today, did go wrong. We lost Zico (Asare) in the warm-up when we’re already without Remy (Clerima) and Kane (Ferdinand). We had chances to win the game but then they’ve scored a worldie header. We showed a lot of character after going 1-0 down.
“Our heads could have dropped but they didn’t. I would have liked the three points and [safety] would have been done, but the next best thing is that.”
Devonshire’s men hold a three-point advantage over Torquay in the final relegation place with a plus seven goal difference heading into their final game of the season at Gateshead.
Barnet set the early tempo with Sam Beard going closest early on, plucking a high ball out of the sky well before turning and smashing a shot just wide of Andre Jr’s upright.
Emmanuel Fernandez was carded for a lunge on Maidenhead’s Ryan Upward midway through the half, and the Magpies’ bench were adamant he should have been sent off when he tripped up Reece Smith later in the half. The midfielder got away with a talking to from referee Stephen Parkinson, and he was substituted at half-time by the visitors.
Maidenhead missed several gilt-edged chances to take the lead early in the second half. Substitute Dan Sparkes rolled a shot just wide with only keeper Laurie Walker to beat, before Sam Barratt too missed the target after good work from Idris Odutayo.