Magpies crash out of FA Cup despite dominant display as Faversham hold firm

Maidenhead United 0, Faversham Town 1

Maidenhead United did pretty much everything but score as they exited the FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage after a 1-0 defeat to step four side Faversham Town at York Road this afternoon (Saturday).

The Magpies dominated the game and had countless opportunities to first take the lead and then equalise after Tashi -Jay Kwaiye had tapped the Lilywhites in front with their first real chance in the 42nd minute.

The Lilywhites then defended their lead like lions in the second half, throwing themselves in front of shots, heading away countless crosses and scooping not one, but two shots off the goal line. And when their impressive backline and keeper Roshan Greensall were finally beaten, the crossbar or post came to their aid.

Maidenhead came into the clash off the back of four straight wins in the National League South, results that have lifted the Magpies to fifth in the table. And they began this game with a reassuring level of control against the team sitting top of the Isthmian League South East Division.

The Magpies had at least a dozen presentable chances to take the lead in the first 40 minutes, with Jordon Ragguette hitting the bar with a deep cross in the second minute and Liam Dulson dancing past a couple of lunges in the box before firing into another Faversham body a couple of minutes later.

Corie Andrews, in from the start in place of the injured Josh Umerah, should have given the hosts the lead in the sixth minute when he inexplicably miss-kicked the ball with only Roshan Greensall to beat after being slipped in on goal by Dulson.

Kane Ferdinand directed a decent header past the post after 15 minutes, Ragguette fired in an absolute howitzer that brushed the post in the 19th minute, and Josh Popoola was denied by a magnificent covering challenge in the 23rd minute after a great piece of skill to beat the first man.

Popoola’s brilliant finish had seen off Chelmsford City in second half stoppage time last week, but he couldn’t adjust his feet to tap home Owen Cochrane’s cross on the half-hour mark, while Jack Parter almost slid in and shanked the ball passed Greensall from another Cochrane cross in the 34th minute.

It felt like a matter of when, not if, the Magpies would score. But the Lilywhites goal continued to lead a charmed life and the visitors then scored from their first real attack.

Maidenhead half cleared their lines from a right-wing corner and the ball fell for Kieron Campbell whose low left-footed shot from just inside the area was turned past Jordi Van Stappershoef from close distance by the dangerous Tashi-Jay Kwaiye.

United had many more chances in the second half to level the tie, but crucially, they also relinquished some control of the match and Faversham had three or four good opportunities to kill them off completely.

First Greensall made two smart saves in a matter of minutes to deny Dulson’s low shot in the 47th minute and Kai Yearn’s poked effort a minute later.

On the hour mark, Faversham missed their first chance to seal the tie when a poor kick out from Van Stappershoef was headed back over the Magpies defence by Eniye Amgbaduba for Ethan Smart to race through on goal. He got his shot on target, but Maidenhead’s Dutch keeper read the effort and spread himself well to save.

Two minutes later and Amgbaduba missed a gilt-edged chance to make it 2-0 to the visitors, heading wide at the back post with the goal seemingly at his mercy.

United had been handed a couple of reprieves but they couldn’t take advantage, mainly thanks to resolute defending from the visitors and the ever-alert Greensall who scooped two shots off his goal line shortly after the hour mark.

First, Maidenhead worked the ball well in the box for Matt Robinson to take aim from the penalty spot. It seemed certain the net would bulge, but Bradley Simms managed to get half a block on his shot and Greensall back peddled to hook the ball off the goal line.

Maidenhead must have known it wouldn’t be their day two minutes later when Greensall managed to get something on Yearn’s close-range shot. The ball looked to be bobbling in before the Lilywhites keeper got back to grab it on the line once again.

United ran out of ideas a little in the closing stages, sending plenty of balls into the box for little reward. At the other end they were grateful to Van Stappershoef once again in the 85th minute when he flung himself across his goalline to keep out Ben Gorham’s header from a right-wing corner.

Faversham then survived seven minutes of stoppage time, with Dulson - who might have had a hat-trick on another day - instinctively firing a shot off the outside of the post.

Faversham held on to put their name in the hat for the third qualifying round draw, and they’ll feel they deserve that following a resolute display against heavily favoured hosts.

United will now have to concentrate on their league campaign, and it’s worth remembering the last time they were knocked out at this stage of the competition - in 2016 to Staines Town - they went on to lift the National League South trophy.

Hopefully that can be a good omen on a disappointing and frustrating afternoon.