New Magpies lift the tempo

Two excellent performances, four points and one contented manager is the highly satisfactory - and unusual - start to the Magpies’ Conference South campaign.

Not known as a team who are quickly out of the blocks, Johnson Hippolyte’s ‘new’ Magpies seemed to have hit their straps early, and according to the manager it’s a level of form they can maintain.

He said: “Overall I’m really pleased with the way we have started, although I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t win last night (Tuesday).

“The new guys have gelled well. We got the new players in early,  and have put in a lot of work on the training ground which seems to have been transferred to the pitch.

“We have a good squad with a growing level of understanding.”

“The way we are playing is pleasing. I have always wanted us to play good football, and on the deck. The club have spent a lot of money on the pitch and it shows.

“We are now able to play the sort of football I want us to play, and the sort of football that I think the fans want us to play.”

Talking about his squad in general, and the much-debated issue of strikers after the departure at the end of last season of the prolific Manny Williams, Johnson said: “I’m really happy with the squad I have put together at present.

“I had been talking to a couple of strikers, but they did not show the interest I wanted to see. I want players here that want to play for Maidenhead United.

“They have since contacted me about playing here, but I told them where to go. I won’t be treated like that.

“We have Richard Pacquette, Lee Newman, Gavin James and Mustafa Tyriaki and I’m happy with that.”

And so he should be, as his side came back from behind to take maximum points at Bromley and then show their confidence in a dominate display against Bath City on Tuesday, which only lacked a winning goal.

Although Hippolyte is satisfied with the way his side have started, he will be keen to get a first home win on Saturday against Braintree Town, who have opened the season with two defeats.

Looking ahead he said of the match: “Braintree have not begun well, but this could make them more fired up than if they had won both their games so far.

“They are a team which have been in and around the play-offs for the past two seasons and so we are definitely expecting a tough match.
“But we are confident and playing well, so we hope to get a good result on home soil.”

Maidenhead United 0, Bath City 0

An entertaining, intelligent but ultimately frustrating performance from the Magpies on Tuesday underlined that they could be a force to be reckoned with this season if only they could find a consistent goalscorer.

Against a team coming off the back of a shock 4-0 home defeat to Welling United, the hosts were by far the more confident, moving the ball around precisely and with purpose, while working hard to find space.

In contrast Bath City appeared a little shell-shocked and were forced to play the ball earlier and longer than they would probably have wanted.

They carried a threat on the break in the form of Darren Edwards and Sekani Simpson, but they were generally well marshalled by Mark Nisbet and Dominic Sterling.

It was City’s Scott Rogers who enjoyed their best chances before the break, one a powerful volley from distance and the other a drive which required Gore to palm it wide.

The Magpies threatened when they got the ball out wide, and they enjoyed their best chances through an Ashley Nicholls header and a knock down to Lee Newman’s whose goalbound shot was blocked.

The Magpies started the second half in the same vein and, getting joy down both flanks,  engineered decent chances for Newman, the lively Dale Binns and Richard Pacquette.

However, Bath became more adept at stifling their hosts, and with frustration levels rising, the encounter appeared to be running out of steam. But the introduction of Ben Surey and Bobby Behzadi gave impetus to the Magpies’ approach, and they should have then grabbed all three points.

On 87 minutes, Behzadi’s angled pass found Pacquette in space 10 yards out, but his well-struck effort was dealt with by City keeper Paul Evans and the best chance for a perfect start to the campaign had passed.