Maidenhead United's survival hopes left hanging by a thread after draw with Wealdstone

Brendan Kiernan celebrates his fourth minute strike. Photo: MUFC/James Whitehead

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Wealdstone 1, Maidenhead United 1

Maidenhead United’s survival hopes have been left hanging by a thread after Wealdstone held them to a 1-1 draw at Grosvenor Vale this afternoon (Monday).

In a game the Magpies really had to win to stand any hope of retaining their National League place next season, the visitors failed to hold onto Brendan Kiernan’s early goal, conceding a leveller through Kallum Cesay six minutes before the interval.

Alan Devonshire was able to hand a start to Remy Clerima, with the Frenchman overcoming a knock which forced him from the field in Friday’s 2-2 draw with Woking at York Road.

The Magpies dominated the opening 45 minutes at Grosvenor Vale and should really have had a more handsome lead to hold onto other than Kiernan’s fourth minute finish.

They got off to a perfect start when Kane Ferdinand cut the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box where Kiernan was lurking to fire past Stones’ keeper Astor Baptiste.

Alex Reid fired over Sam Howes’ crossbar for the home side in the 16th minute, but the pattern of play was generally in one direction and Maidenhead were guilty once again of failing to take their chances.

A huge one fell for Shawn McCoulsky in the 20th minute when the striker was played through on goal, but the Stones got back to make a sliding challenge to thwart him, and Baptiste then saved well from Reece Smith’s follow.

Smith had a chance to pick out McCoulsky again in the 33rd minute after breaking clear of the Stones’ defence but his cut back was intercepted by Woodman when maybe he shouldn’t have been given the chance.

Their proligacy in front of goal is one of the reasons Maidenhead find themselves in a relegation battle this season and Ferdinand will feel aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty in the 39th minute when he appeared to be tripped in the area after latching onto a Casey Pettit ball.

A small lapse in concentration allowed Cesay to smash the Stones back into the game with a shot that cannoned in off the crossbar from inside the area.

SYLs GOALS LIVE- Half Time Wealdstone 1 - 1 Maidenhead @CesayKallum pic.twitter.com/L3h28hDXxN

— Syl Allen (@syl_isylma) April 21, 2025

But the Magpies should really have bounced back before the half-time whistle when McCoulsky was handed another chance by Kiernan only for Josh Grant to knock him off balance with his shot going just wide.

Level at the break. pic.twitter.com/2OdVN5b25U

— Maidenhead United (@MUFCYorkRoad) April 21, 2025

Will de Havilland was cautioned for a robust challenge in the 53rd minute - and it proved a costly one, with the collision forcing the Maidenhead defender off, further depleting the Magpies defensive resources. Alan Massey came on for the defender, just as he’d done for Clerima in Friday’s clash with the Cards.

Howes was forced into a huge save on the hour mark, pulling out a strong stop to keep out Enzio Boldewijn’s effort from the left which took a small deflection on its way through to goal.

Having already brought on Massey, Devonshire then made a double change in the 63rd minute, bringing on Sam Barratt and Tristan Abrahams for Kiernan and Joshua Johnson.

Nathan Ferguson was also brought on in the 76th minute to provide some extra guile and invention as the Magpies threw caution to the wind in the closing stages.

to go...

Come on United! pic.twitter.com/shF1TFVVEO

— Maidenhead United (@MUFCYorkRoad) April 21, 2025

The game became increasingly stretched as both sides went in search of a late winner. Smith broke free on the counter in the 83rd minute but couldn’t pick out a teammate in black and white. Devonshire added Tobi Sho-Silva for Kane Ferdinand in a final role of the dice, but he wasn’t able to make the difference in an incredibly open six minutes of stoppage time.

A late goal for the Magpies would have had massive implications for their survival battle. Victory would have taken them to within a point of the Stones with two very winnable matches to come. As it stands, this result means the Magpies remain four points from safety in 23rd place with now only two matches to play at Ebbsfleet United on Saturday and Boston United at home on Monday, May 5.

The Magpies will look to beat Fleet on Saturday and hope to take it to the final day - if other results go their way. Although there’s every chance their relegation fate will now be sealed at the Kuflink Stadium, whether the Magpies win, lose or draw.

United now have to just win and pray.