Langstaff at the double as Notts County quell Maidenhead United fight back

Kane Ferdinand celebrates his equaliser to make it 3-3. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United 3, Notts County 4

Two quality finishes from Macaulay Langstaff effectively sealed this result in the favour of the league leaders, however, Maidenhead United acquitted themselves well in a lively, competitive clash.

Having conceded twice in the final minutes of the first half, the hosts looked to be down and out as they trailed 3-1, however, Emile Acquah’s second and a lovely strike on the turn from Kane Ferdinand levelled matters midway through the second half and Alan Devonshire’s side looked capable of throwing a huge spanner in the works of County’s title bid.

However, when the National League front-runners needed a bit of quality, they found it in the form of the division’s leading scorer, Langstaff, who acrobatically volleyed home Kyle Cameron’s wonderful cross in the 83rd minute.

United came into this clash off the back of a frustrating 1-1 home draw with Dorking Wanderers last weekend, but for spells in both the first and second half, they threatened to take the scalp of a side who’ve lost just once all season.

County found their stride early on, with Ruben Rodrigues ghosting in unmarked to turn home Cameron’s dinked cross in the 10th minute. The goal served as an alarm clock for Maidenhead though and they managed to get themselves back on a more even keel. Ferdinand went close for them in the 21st minute, just failing to slide the ball beyond Sam Slocombe after racing onto Charlee Adams’ ball over the top. Then Sam Barratt saw his rasping drive on the half-hour mark pushed behind by Slocombe. Respite was fleeting for the visitors, however, with Acquah getting in front of his marker to prod home Barratt’s resulting corner.

But having worked so hard to get back on level terms, Maidenhead looked to have thrown the game away in the minutes before half-time. County retook the lead in the 39th minute, when Quevin Castro’s cross into the area deceived everyone and bounced into the back of the net. Then, a minute or two later, County carved through the middle of Maidenhead’s defence and created the kind of opportunity that Langstaff has been burying this season – he duly obliged.

Game over, or so we all thought, but Maidenhead breathed life back into the game just after half-time. Again, it came from a set piece that was whipped into the area, the ball breaking kindly for Acquah to slot beyond Slocombe.

It took County a while to regain their composure and the hosts took advantage. They levelled the game again in the 67th minute when Adams floated another lovely ball over the top of County’s defence and Remy Clerima picked out Ferdinand who swivelled and rifled the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Both teams might have won it as the action lurched from one end to the other, but it was County who showed the quality and character of potential title winners when Cameron’s searching cross was volleyed home brilliantly by Langstaff seven minutes from time. His late goal keeps County a point clear of second placed Wrexham who were 2-0 winners at Eastleigh. Maidenhead are now 16th ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Altrincham.

Reflecting on the game, United boss Alan Devonshire said: “I’m proud of the players. We were 3-1 down at half-time and had a silly three or four minutes before the break where we’ve conceded sloppy, poor goals. And then their winner, you can say it’s a great finish, and it is, but there was no one near him. I feel for them, but we’ve got to tighten up on our defensive stuff.”

County boss Luke Williams added: “It was a tough game with both teams trying desperately to win the game. The control of the game passed between the two sides in a way that was uncomfortable for me, but in the end, we’re delighted to get the points.

“The manner of the goals we conceded today were too soft. They scored from simple set pieces, standard balls into the box and we allowed them to be a problem and that’s very disappointing.

“But I understand the character of this group and the quality of Macca’s finish is incredible, but the quality of the run and cross from Kyle Cameron is also spectacular.”