Maidenhead United look to be down and out after Daggers' defeat

Dagenham & Redbridge 1, Maidenhead United 0

Maidenhead United have been punching above their weight in the National League for several seasons now, but it seems they may have finally punched themselves out after their 1-0 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge yesterday afternoon (Saturday) left them five points from safety with only six games left to play.

United have been in perilous positions before at this stage of the season and have managed to dig themselves out of trouble, but never have they been quite so far adrift of safety with so few games to play.

They’ve also played a game more than the three sides above them in the table competing for survival, so it’s going to take a miraculous rediscovery of form in the final weeks of the season to get themselves out of jail this time.

With games against four of their direct rivals for survival still to come, there’s always a chance the Magpies could pull a few positive results out of the bag to take their battle to the final matches, but their form over the course of the season - or even their form over the past few weeks - doesn’t suggest they’ll make it out of the bottom four this time.

Maidenhead supporters were seemingly coming to terms with that on social media following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Victoria Park, with most accepting the side has been playing above their level for most of the past eight seasons in the National League. A part-time team playing in a league of full-time sides it did seem a matter of when, not if, Maidenhead would finally be relegated - but perhaps we shouldn’t be too quick to write their National League obituary. Alan Devonshire, his coaching staff and players certainly won’t have given up yet, and should they manage to pick up a victory at home to Tamworth on Saturday, the great escape could well be back on.

Saturday was another disappointing display where there wasn’t a great deal between the teams, but the fine margins went against the visitors.

The only goal of the game came from their recently developed Achilles’ Heel, free kicks into the box. The ball was whipped in by Ryan Hill and Josh Rees was given the freedom of Victoria Park to head past Craig Ross.

United had their chances too. In the first half a flick from Will De Havilland ran into the path of the returning Shawn McCoulsky, but he shot straight at Jake Turner.

Then, on the hour mark Thierry Latty-Fairweather’s charge into the box resulted in a shot that was cleared off the Dagenham line by Hill, the Daggers’ goal provider and goal saver.

United brought on Brendan Kiernan for Tristan Abrahams - a substitution that raised a few eyebrows among Maidenhead fans with the visitors desperately in need of a goal. Chris Wreh also came on for the final minutes but made little impact.

De Havilland headed wide of the mark in the 84th minute, and Ross came up from the back to cause confusion in the Daggers’ area in the final minutes, but the home side held on for an important victory in their own quest for survival.

The result leaves Devonshire’s side five points - effectively six with goal difference - from safety with their time in the National League rapidly running out it seems.