First opening day win for Magpies in five years

For the first time in five years Maidenhead United got off to a winning start in the league as they swept aside Bromley thanks to a Lee Newman brace.

Despite falling to an early deficit on the opening day of the Blue Square South, the Magpies came back at Bromley to win 2-1.

The early exchanges saw both sides launch into an exciting opening 20 minutes with Newman going closest to opening the scoring in the fourth minute when he collected a pass and ran clear of the defence
only for his shot to go inches wide of the post.

Two minutes later, the Ravens took the lead from a set piece.  A Louis Fazakerley free kick from the right wing just outside the box sailed home beyond the despairing dive of debutante Magpies keeper Shane Gore.

With both teams looking like scoring every time they attacked, Maidenhead’s equaliser was not long in coming, and again it was from a set piece. 

This time a 12th minute Ashley Smith corner from the left sailed over to the far post when Grant Cooper rose unchallenged to head the ball down to Richard Pacquette. 

Pacquette struck the ball goalwards where Newman was handily placed to apply the finishing touch.

Ten minutes later, Pacquette was unlucky not to put Maidenhead in front with a header that went narrowly wide, but after this frenetic opening spell the game calmed down into a tough midfield battle.

After the break, despite Grant Cooper having to hobble off in the 49th minute, Maidenhead slowly took control of the game, patiently cranking up the pressure on the Ravens defence. 

United served notice on the Bromley goal when a superb Dale Binns cross confounded everyone in the penalty area just shy of the hour mark. The winner shortly followed from the penalty spot. Picking up a deft flick from Ashley Nicholls, an Ashley Smith ball was handled by Steve Clark, Newman making no mistake with the spot kick.

Bromley worked hard to get back into the game and Warren McBean found himself with a half chance on more than one occasion only for Dominic Sterling and Shane Gore to tidy up the danger. 

It was Maidenhead who came closest to a further goal, Pacquette spurning a good opportunity in the final minute.