Maidenhead United held as Popoola stunner not enough against Tonbridge

Josh Popoola. Photo credit: Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United 1, Tonbridge Angels 1

Maidenhead United slipped to sixth in the National League South table on Tuesday evening as Josh Popoola’s fabulous first half strike was cancelled out by Tonbridge Angels at York Road.

The Magpies headed into this week hoping to build on their impressive run of six straight victories in the league, but from winnable home matches against Eastbourne Borough and Tonbridge, they’ve been forced to settle for just one point.

Alan Devonshire’s side remain in the play-off places at the top of the division, but they’ve lost ground on leaders Weston-Super-Mare, who moved top with a resounding 5-1 home win over the Magpies neighbours Slough Town.

Having lacked a cutting edge and a bit of guile in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Eastbourne, the Magpies began last night’s clash under the lights in determined fashion.

They fashioned the game’s first opportunity in the sixth minute when a trademark Liam Dulson run and cross very nearly picked out Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, but Angels’ keeper Jacob Adams was able to claim.

Popoola popped a free kick from distance over the wall but also over the bar in the eighth minute, while Manny Onariase will feel he should have diverted the ball in at the back post from another dangerous cross from Popoola in the 15th minute.

You sensed the Magpies might live to regret not taking their chances and United were nearly caught out a minute or two later when the Angels thought they’d scrambled the ball over the line from a corner, but neither the referee nor linesman were convinced.

Onariase, who missed a late chance to equalise in Saturday’s loss to Eastbourne, went close again with a header that smashed back off the crossbar midway through the first half while Popoola stung the palms of Adams with a crisp drive in the 22nd minute.

Momentum remained with the Magpies however, and players had their heads in their hands once again when Corie Andrews’ header was clawed off the goal line in the 40th minute. However, their pressure didn’t count for nothing as, in first half stoppage time, Popoola skipped past a couple of challenges and rifled a powerful drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.

JP smashes his fourth of the season into the corner pic.twitter.com/Vced0i87Le

— Maidenhead United (@MUFCYorkRoad) October 22, 2025

It was no less than the home side deserved and there was optimism amongst supporters they’d be able to build on that lead in the second period.

Sadly, the game didn’t unfold in the way they hoped, despite a bright start to the period which saw the returning Matt Robinson force Adams into another save, moments after appearing to be tripped in the area.

A mis-timed header from Andrews brought further frustration for the home side who then saw the visitors draw level through Nazir Bakrin’s header just after the hour mark.

A mad five minutes nearly saw Bailey Akehurst score a second goal for Tonbridge three minutes later, the forward firing over from four yards out. But the control Maidenhead had over their opponents was now ebbing away.

The home side pressed hard in the closing stages, but couldn’t force another clear-cut opportunity, with Dulson taken out as he looked to pull the trigger late on. United slip to sixth in the table, seven points behind leaders Weston ahead of Saturday’s trip to Farnborough.