Late goals help Magpies turn match on its Heed
Maidenhead United FC: McCoulsky’s injury-time winner secures United’s survival
Maidenhead United 2, Gateshead 1
Maidenhead United will be playing National League football again next season after upsetting Gateshead’s charge for the play-offs with a come-from-behind win at York Road on Saturday.
Luke Hannant had fired the Heed ahead from the penalty spot in the 54th minute, but United wouldn't roll over and accept defeat with Kevin Lokko heading the hosts level in the 84th minute, before the Magpies grabbed a controversial 93rd minute winner through Shawn McCoulsky.
With Gateshead pushing to try and restore their lead, the Magpies hoisted a long ball down field, with McCoulsky appearing to foul Kenton Richardson before showing great composure to take the ball around Nathan Harness to slot home.
It was a goal that sparked great scenes of jubilation among Maidenhead supporters as they celebrated their club’s survival.
The first half was a sedate affair, with both teams restricted to half chances. Gateshead had the best of them when Connor McBride’s shot from inside the area in stoppage-time was kept out on the line by his own teammate Marcus Dinanga.
However, Gateshead deservedly took the lead in the 54th minute when a sliding Will De Havilland brought down McBride and Hannant confidently swept the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.
At that stage it looked like all three points would be following Gateshead back up to the North East, and they should have killed the game when Dinanga was denied by a fantastic save from Craig Ross just after the hour mark, following an excellent lobbed pass from Callum Whelan.
United’s forwards were largely kept on a tight leash by the visitors’ defence; however, their best chance came in the 51st minute when Casey Pettit opted for placement rather than power after being played in by Ashley NathanielGeorge.
However, the hosts stuck to their task and gave the game an unexpected late twist. First, in the 84th minute, Pettit swept a free kick over from the right which Alan Massey headed back across goal for Lokko to nod down and into the back of the net.
Then, with the clock having ticked well past 90 minutes, McCoulsky barged Kenton Richardson out of the way before calmly taking the ball around Harness and slotting into the empty net.
Gateshead will feel referee Ross Martin should have blown for a foul, but Magpies' manager Alan Devonshire won't care a jot about that and nor will his players after securing their safety.
On securing the club’s survival, Alan Devonshire said: “We make it hard for ourselves.
“We’ve had so many injuries this year, I can’t believe it. But I’m just delighted for those players. They don’t stop, they give me everything and that’s all that I can ask for.”
His opposite number, Rob Elliot, added: “I’m disappointed for the lads. We had enough chances to win the game, but we just didn’t take them, or they didn’t fall for us today.
“Their keeper made a couple of brilliant saves. Overall, I’m pleased with our reaction from Thursday and the chances we’ve created.
“We dominated the ball and dominated the play. It was a poor, soft foul which was given for their free kick into the box (for the first goal) and then at the end, we feel it was a clear foul on Kenton at the end, when you see the fouls that were given throughout the game.”