Hard work over headlines: Ferdinand delighted as Magpies find different ways to win

Liam Dulson on the charge. Photo: Darren Woolley/MUFC

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Midfielder Kane Ferdinand admitted it was difficult for the Magpies to master the blustery conditions as well as their skilful opponents in Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Worthing.

United stretched their winning run in the league to six matches - and will have the chance to make it seven when lowly Eastbourne Borough visit York Road in a couple of weeks’ time.

But they didn’t have things all their own way on their own patch after taking a deserved lead through Liam Dulson’s 23rd minute strike.

They managed to pen the Rebels inside their own half for the first 45 minutes and squandered several chances to double their advantage through Josh Umerah, Remy Clerima and Josh Popoola. Worthing survived through to the break and though they played with a lot more ambition in the second half, United clung on for all three points.

Jack Spong sent a few attempts arrowing narrowly off target for the visitors, while Matt Burgess and Anointed Chukwu both had decent claims for a penalty waved away by the referee.

They were also left down to 10 men when Harry Ransom was sent off following a couple of late lunges on substitute Corie Andrews. Assistant manager Ryan Peters said afterwards he was ‘baffled’ Ransom was able stay on the pitch after body-checking Andrews just moments after he’d come onto the field. He escaped punishment for a challenge that left the Maidenhead striker struggling to breathe but was later sent off for another crude challenge on the same player.

“I was baffled as how he was still on the pitch,” said Peters.

“He (Ransom) should have been sent off earlier. You would have thought that after you get away with one, you wouldn’t carry on doing the same thing. The one thing, where Corie has gone down, he was struggling to breathe for a little while. Then a few minutes later he tries to do the same thing. I imagine the referee didn’t see the first incident, but it’s baffling to me that he’d try the same thing again.”

Reflecting on a tough game, Ferdinand said: “It was difficult. It was a game of two halves really.

“We knew we wanted to get in their faces early on and we were on top of them with the wind.

“It paid off getting a goal and maybe we could have got two or three. But we held on in the second half when we were up against it and yeah, six wins in a row.”

On the penalty decisions which went Maidenhead’s way rather than Worthing’s Ferdinand added: “The first one (by Jordi Van Stappershoef on Burgess) was a clear dive, I was able to see that.

“The second one I think Manny (Onariase) has got a toe to the ball. I think that one could have been given.

“Sometimes they go against you, but I think Manny got in a touch and did well.”

United haven’t been at their best in their past few league wins, especially the gritty 1-0 successes over Maidstone United and Worthing. But they are finding a way to get the job done, and that’s something they’ll need to do a lot more often to stay in the title hunt this season. Next up struggling Eastbourne Borough visit York Road on October 18 when the Magpies will have a seventh straight win in their sights.

“I definitely hope we can stay in the mix,” said Ferdinand.

“The manager has said that a few times to us. We’re not always going to be at our best. The last game I didn’t play at Maidstone, but that was another one like this.

“It was a gritty 1-0 win, but if you want to be up there, you’ve got to win these games.”

Ferdinand added: “I don’t mind the (two week) break to Eastbourne. Being in my 30s now, but others want to play more and keep up the fitness. They want to keep it going every week. I don’t mind it too much. I felt good out there and we’ll have the same situation again.

“Especially after the first four games when we didn’t play that well. But we knew we weren’t that far away. We drew two and lost two but were dominating most of those matches. Now we’re putting our chances away and the games are looking a lot different. We have a lead to protect rather than trying to chase games. We looked pretty good in my opinion.”