Adams misses late penalty as Maidenhead United fall to defeat against Boreham Wood

Sam Beckwith. Photo: Maidenhead United

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Maidenhead United 0, Boreham Wood 1

Boreham Wood’s narrow win over Maidenhead United at York Road came down to a tale of two penalties, one taken by Wood’s Tyrone Marsh and the other missed by Maidenhead’s Charlee Adams right at the death.

Maidenhead have been a tough nut to crack this season, especially at home, and they had the better of the early stages, with Chanka Zimba missing a glorious opportunity in the opening seconds. The Wood defence presented the Magpies’ striker with a sight of goal but with Nathan Ashmore out of position, Zimba side-footed his shot wide of the mark.

United continued to look a threat on the flanks through Jayden Mitchell-Lawson and Ashley Nathaniel-George, but too often their final ball was found wanting and Wood were able to clear the danger.

The visitors only really roused themselves for the final five minutes of the half when Tom Whealan’s strike from the edge of the area clipped the Magpies’ upright and went behind.

The pattern of play continued in the second half, with the hosts pressing, but lacking the guile to create anything meaningful. But a lifeless spectacle was jolted into life in the 53rd minute when Marsh got the better of Sam Beckwith down the right and surged into the area. Keen to make amends, Beckwith clumsily caught the striker from behind and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Marsh’s first spot-kick was ordered to be retaken, but the striker kept his cool to beat Craig Ross for a second time, low to the keeper’s right. Ross guessed right but the penalty had too much power and placement to keep it out.

Alan Devonshire brought on Tobi Sho-Silva for Harry Parsons in a bid to breathe some life into the Magpies’ offensive play and initially, it had the desired effect, with the home side forcing a series of corners. However, they all came to nothing and too often this afternoon Maidenhead’s play was too predictable.

Marsh looped another header wide of the post from Cameron Coxe’s cross in the 78th minute, but it looked like the game was heading for a gritty away win until Coxe slid in to bring down the impressive Mitchell-Lawson in the box deep into injury time. Ashmore, a one-time loan player for the Magpies, had the last laugh, however, dropping down to claim Adams’ weak spot-kick to earn his side a much-needed three points.

Afterwards, Devonshire said: “It was always going to be that kind of game against Boreham Wood. They make it that way. Two penalties. Sam (Beckwith) should have taken a booking before it happened, but the fella (Marsh) is clever, he’s slowed down, and he’s brought him down. We get a penalty; they score it, and we miss.

“A draw would have been fair, but it hasn’t happened, and we move on. We had a couple of early chances. I wouldn’t have minded if we’d got something, but we’ve got nothing, and we have some tough games coming up now.”

His opposite number in the dugout, Luke Garrard, added: “That save was massive (from Ashmore). It wins us three points. Maidenhead started the game well. For the first 30 minutes they stuck it on us, but we rode that and were resilient in terms of defending that. I asked the team to start the second half in the manner that we finished it, and we did that.

“We scored a pen twice, that’s great bravery from Marshy to step up on two occasions. We rode our luck at the end, but we haven’t had much luck this year. Thankfully we did at the end with Ashmore’s save.”

Maidenhead fall to 17th ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Southend United