Pre-season reports: Maidenhead United bury the Moles and grind out late win over Geordies

New signing Tyrese Dyce in action against Binfield. Photo credit: Binfield FC

--

Binfield 0, Maidenhead United 7

The Magpies goalscoring pre-season form continued on Saturday afternoon at Isthmian League neighbours Binfield in the Berkshire sunshine. A strong Magpies line-up saw all fit members of Alan Devonshire's first team squad gain useful game time. They were however kept at bay for the opening twenty-five minutes by the Moles trialist goalkeeper who pulled off two excellent saves from Ruben Carvalho before impressive Academy graduate Jamie Davies finally opened the scoring by putting the ball into the net at the near post at the second attempt.

Earlier in the half, Jayden Mitchell Lawson saw his shot deflected wide as the Magpies dominated the play. After seeing an earlier penalty kick saved – Mitchell-Lawson the man fouled in the box after a mistake by Brighton Morrison – and then being denied by the goalkeeper at point-blank range Tobi Sho-Silva belatedly and deserved got on the scoresheet, glancing home the second from Remy Clerima's cross. Casey Pettit had also seen a thunderous volley blocked by former Magpie Luke Wayborn prior to the break.

Devonshire made seven changes at half time - and four further changes in the second half - and it took until the hour mark for the Magpies to go up a gear. Kevin Lokko nodded into an empty net after Will De Havilland headed Sam Barratt's centre across goal and thereafter it was the Shawn McCoulsky show. A corner was headed against the post by first-year professional Josh McMenemy but ended up in the net via McCoulsky. A perfect chip made it five and McCoulsky had a six-minute hat-trick when he despatched a cut-back from Reece Smith.

The scoring was completed in injury time as a third Maidenhead Academy graduate, Jadyn Dundas, threaded a perfect through ball for the Magpies forward to claim his fourth and United’s seventh. The best chance for Ross Weatherstone’s side – who ensured Step 4 status on the final day of the 2023/24 season after a remarkable run of form in the final weeks – fell to one of five trialists used by the hosts who was denied by the Magpies own trialist goalkeeper in the second half.

--

Hanwell Town 0, Maidenhead United 1

The Magpies pre-season preparations took another step up on Tuesday evening as they snatched a late victory at the Powerday Stadium, home to Step 3 Southern Premier League outfit Hanwell Town.

The Geordies were the highest ranked opposition Dev’s men had faced thus far this summer, and the match in West London was a more physical affair than United had experienced to date since returning to training at the start of the month.

In truth, it was a less flowing performance from Maidenhead than had been seen in slotting thirteen goals in total past Holyport and Binfield. The visitors started well and a Sam Barratt cross was glanced over the top by Shawn McCoulsky, the Magpies forward perhaps off balance when meeting the ball. The ever-likely Reece Smith slipped in summer signing Joseph Ajose who saw his shot saved well at his near post by the hosts former Maidenhead ‘keeper Sam Beasant. A Casey Pettit effort from the egde of the box was deflected a whisker wide of the goal with Beasant seemingly beaten and Ajose went close again before the break, by which time Sam Barratt had limped off with what looked to be a muscular injury.

The second period was played at no less a tempo but with the referee’s regular whistling making the game ever more scrappy, most of the second period was short on clear scoring chances. Substitute Ruben Carvalho – one of six replacements used by Devonshire during the second period – tested Beasant from a free-kick and the promising Ajose was then denied by the home goalkeeper at the end of a flowing run infield. Hanwell had their chances in the final ten minutes but were unable to hit the target with a couple of presentable half chances and they were punished seconds before the final whistle as Casey Pettit refused to give up on chasing one last loose ball and pulling back to Carvalho to roll the ball past Beasant.

United now go to another Step 3 side on Saturday, visiting Swindon Supermarine for the first time since a FA Trophy tie back in November 2003.