Dorchester win confirms Magpies are serious contenders

After crashing out of the FA cup to lowly Bashley, Maidenhead United FC manager Johnson ‘Drax’ Hippolyte was under no illusions about the importance of his club’s next league game.

A defeat in their match against Dorchester Town and questions may have started to be asked, but win and their status as one of the big team’s in the league would be more assured.

The Magpies duly won to move up to fifth in the Conference South and did so with some degree of style, despite needing Shane Gore to save a late penalty, leaving Drax  delighted with his side’s showing.

“We were all pretty down after the Bashley game and we wanted a reaction from the players,” he said.

“And we certainly got it. We should have had the game won by half-time and we played some nice football.

“We had between eight or 10 good chances throughout the game and Richard Pacquette, who’s been brilliant for us all year, could have scored about four by half-time.

“We were looking really comfortable and then they scored a really comical goal against the run of play but we didn’t let our heads get down.”

However despite drawing level, the Magpies maintained their pressure and eventually Richard Pacquette sealed the win with a smartly taken goal.

“We had lots of chances  but couldn't convert them, but we didn’t panic and kept on playing good football,” he added.

“I was a little bit worried when they got the penalty right at the end because if it had gone in it would have been a complete travesty.

“We deserved three points and we were pleased with them.”

Drax also revealed that he was very pleased with the way recent signing Rocky Babtiste settled into his new team.

“I thought he had a really good debut,” he said. “He linked up well with Pacquette and on another day he could have scored his first goal.”

Hippolyte also admitted that he is delighted that the club have brought forward the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup game against Burnham to next Tuesday (October, 14).

“You want to be playing every week and after we got knocked out of the FA Cup we are very keen to get to this final.

“We’ll be sending out a strong side and if we can we’d be looking to knock three or four past them.

“We certainly won’t be underestimating them but we’re in a higher league and we should be beating sides like Burnham pretty comfortably.

“I’m sure it will be a tough game though.”