Peters hopes Maidenhead United can harness momentum from win over Minstermen

Charlee Adams. Photo: Maidenhead United FC

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Maidenhead United assistant boss Ryan Peters hopes the Magpies can harness the momentum they've gained from Saturday's impressive win at York City to push themselves further up the National League table.

The Magpies remain seven points clear of the bottom four after this weekend's 2-1 win but, in a congested table, they're now within seven points of the play-off places again looking ahead to next Saturday's tough-looking trip to Bromley.

Should they pull another away win out of the bag against the Ravens they may be able to look up the table again – rather than over their shoulders – after a period of indifferent results and performances.

Academy product Reece Smith had a hand in both goals on Saturday, forcing his way to the by-line before teeing up Ashley Nathaniel-George to give United a first half lead and, after weather a spell of pressure from the Minstermen at the start of the second half, he laid off an indirect free-kick for Cole Kpekawa to thump home - via a fairly sizeable deflection - to put the Magpies two goals to the good midway through the second half. John-Lewis grabbed a goal back in the closing stages, but Alan Devonshire's side held firm in the closing stages - something that's not come entirely natural to them in recent weeks.

.@reece_smith2002's run down the right

The Magpies Academy graduate assisted both goals at the weekend. pic.twitter.com/ZFBLV76CoI

— Maidenhead United (@MUFCYorkRoad) January 30, 2023

This victory – their first in the league for 10 weeks - lifts them to 16th in the table, level on 32 points with York City, ahead of next Saturday's trip to Bromley. United also have the small matter of an Berks & Bucks Senior Cup tie at home to Marlow tomorrow night (Tuesday), with Hungerford Town awaiting the winner in the quarterfinal.

Speaking to United media officer, Grace Scott after the final whistle, Peters said: “It was an amazing performance. They had two spells, one in the first half and maybe one in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but after that I thought we managed the game particularly well.

“They threw everything at us in the last few seconds and we handled it really well. We were definitely worth the victory.

“The gaffer has a squad that he believes in, and we’ll stand by them no matter what. The results have been indifferent of late, but they’ve been doing everything they can to try and change things and we have done today. We’ve now got a packed period of games coming up, but we’ve got to harness this win to help us move up the league.”

He added: “We never want breaks, we want to keep going as much as possible, but, within that break, it has allowed us to talk through a few things and make changes where necessary.

“We got right into the game today and we were positive from the outset. We were good today.

“We’ll see how the boys are but we’re going to train as usual on Monday. We’re not going to rest on our laurels. We want to go and make sure we put in another good shift on Tuesday and of course, momentum leads to momentum and we’re going to keep going and try to get another win.”

On the 101 fans who travelled to the LNER Community Stadium – including the Maidenhead Advertiser’s own Shay Bottomley in his last away game before moving to Canada – Peters added: “It was a great atmosphere from both sets of fans, but we could still hear ours 10 minutes after the game singing every boy’s song.

“It’s impressive, they do all they can to come and support us, they travel miles to support us, and we love them, we very much love them.”

To wish him all the best on his move to Canada, Shay was presented with a Maidenhead United shirt – signed by all the players – ahead of kick-off.

All of us wish you the very best in Canada, Shay! #WeAreMaidenhead https://t.co/FCDizSOt9k pic.twitter.com/A2jlYSC4JM

— Maidenhead United (@MUFCYorkRoad) January 28, 2023