Robinson the driving force behind Maidenhead United's statement win

Matt Robinson helped dictate the play for the Magpies on Saturday. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United came through one of their ‘toughest tests’ of the season on Saturday, maybe not with flying colours, but certainly with all three points. And they had to show character, effort - and plenty of quality - to defeat the Clarets.

Chelmsford City arrived at York Road level on points with the Magpies and fancied by many as one of the favourites for the National League South title.

Having spent plenty, and spent well over the summer, they - like the Magpies - hope to be in and amongst the front-runners when the season enters the final straight come April.

For much of the 90 minutes on Saturday they showed why that’s the case against a Maidenhead team that is quickly finding its feet at this level. It was a tight, tense, clash that at times the visitors shaded, but Maidenhead managed to get their noses in front through a super Liam Dulson volley shortly before half-time, and the hosts probably had the edge - certainly in chances - as the sides battled for supremacy in the second half.

The Clarets looked like they’d snatched a late equaliser when Jack Barham turned the ball home from close range after Corbett’s brilliant free kick had beaten Jordi Van Stappershoef and bounced off the inside of the post. Yet this United had one last trick up their sleeve in the form of Josh Popoola, who left keeper Chris Haigh rooted to the spot with a wonderful, improvised finish in the 92nd minute.

Having excelled at Bath City in Tuesday’s 4-0 win, United also showed they could also scrap and fight for all three points against one of the league’s best - and that will delight manager Alan Devonshire.

Key to victory was midfielder Matt Robinson, whose composure on the ball and ability to dictate play - as well as the tempo - has been key to Maidenhead’s recent form.

Speaking after the final whistle he said: “Yeah, we knew that these lot today, would maybe be our hardest test yet, in terms of where they are. How their form has been. They have a lot of good players, and we knew we had to match that.

“But we came off the game against Bath with confidence and it was always going to be a hard performance to top. From 1-11 and all the subs that came on on Tuesday night were magnificent. We knew it was going to be difficult, but we know that within this squad, we have the capability to come back and win games. We’ve shown it already. We know that we have in the dressing room what we need to get it done.

“If I’m honest, our goal came against the run of play a bit. They started very quickly, and we managed to weather the storm. Off the back of that we were able to sustain a bit of pressure, and I think there were three or four instances where we had some play around their box, and it didn’t come to anything.

“Eventually, one dropped and Duls (Liam Dulson) managed to put it in. I think we could have scored just before that as well.

“But they then scored their equaliser against the run of play. They had to throw everything at it, but we then had to throw everything back the other way and we managed to get something out of the game that I felt we deserved. Corie, credit to him has come off the bench and rose well at the back post, and Josh produced the magic, as he has done since he joined.”

Robinson believes Maidenhead grew into the game as it went on, and had they scored a second with the chances they had, it might have become a more comfortable afternoon. In the end, they had to negotiate the setback of a late Chelmsford equaliser, but the ‘euphoria’ Robinson and his teammates felt at Popoola’s 92nd minute winner made all that sweat and toil worthwhile.

“In the second half, we had the better of the chances,” he said.

“They had some sustained pressure, but I felt we dealt with it very well. On another day it might have turned into a similar game to Bath where we would go on and score two or three. But they’re a good side, they pushed to the end and were throwing everything at it.

"They got their equaliser, and it didn’t look like there was much time left. But this group is resilient, and it’s got the components to overcome any kind of adversity. Even after we’d scored, we still had some work to do, and we never switched off. I’m just glad we’ve made it four out of four.

“I’d call it euphoria. Last minute winners never get old. You could feel the tension release through all the lads and the fans. We have got everything in this dressing room to win games, and if it has to be a last-minute winner, it has to be a last-minute winner.”