Maidenhead United's winless run stretches to six as Torquay triumph at York Road

Will De Havilland. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United 1, Torquay United 2

Maidenhead United’s wait for a National League South victory goes on as the Magpies were deservedly beaten 2-1 by promotion chasers Torquay United at York Road this afternoon.

United came into today’s clash looking to end a run of five matches without a win in the league - four of them defeats - but they were well marshalled for the most part by their well-drilled visitors, who won the match with goals from Callum Dolan and an own goal from Will de Havilland.

Both Alan Devonshire and Ryan Peters had spoken of the Magpies missing edge in the final third, and that was evident again during a frustrating first half at York Road.

On the face of it, the early stages were even and exciting, but Torquay gradually managed to get themselves on top with the lively Jordan Young causing the Magpies’ back line all sorts of problems.

He came close to giving the Gulls the lead inside the first two minutes when he scampered onto a ball over the top and flicked a shot beyond Jordi Van Stappershoef, but the covering De Havilland was able to get back and prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Maidenhead also had their moments in a lively opening period, with Jordon Ragguette sending in several dangerous crosses from the left. Their best chance came in the sixth minute when the hosts broke up field through Kai Yearn and Josh Umerah. Umerah played the ball for Sam Barratt who backheeled it into the path of Josh Popoola, but the forward’s attempt at goal was blocked and cleared.

Devonshire couldn’t fault the effort of his players, who threw their bodies in front of several goal bound shots in the first half. But having been denied by Van Stappershoef earlier in the half - after another weaving run from Young, Dolan managed to find a way past the big Dutch keeper in the 40th minute.

There looked to be little danger when the Gulls player picked up the ball 30 yards out, but Dolan’s low strike flashed into the bottom right hand corner to make it 1-0.

The Gulls should really have doubled their advantage a minute later, when Louis Dennis scooped a shot over the bar from on the six-yard line. He jumped and howled in frustration. It was a major let off for the Magpies, who forced a late chance in the half when Popoola was brought down on the edge of the area, but Yearn’s free kick hit the wall. in the aftermath, a fight broke out involving De Havilland, and there were claims of a foul from both teams, but the referee perhaps didn’t see the incident and both De Havilland and Dyer were yellow carded.

The start of the second half was a quiet affair, with Torquay controlling matters for the most part.

There were no chances of note until the 68th minute when Maidenhead worked the ball well down the left and Popoola sent in a low cross for substitute Asher Yearwood, but Dyer managed to block his attempt behind for a corner kick.

The goal which seemingly killed off Maidenhead’s hopes arrived in the 72nd minute and it was man of the match Young who created it. The forward managed to wriggle free and get to the byline before standing up a cross that De Havilland inadvertently nodded past Van Stappershoef.

The way Maidenhead had been playing that felt very much like game over, and that remained the case until the 81st minute when Umerah crossed well for Liam Dulson who headed over the bar when he might have done better.

That chance sparked a much better ending to the game than most of a Maidenhead persuasion were expecting. In the 85th minute substitute Corie Andrews was played through on goal, but he shot straight at James Hamon who managed to hold onto the ball.

Galvanised further, the Magpies poured forward again in the 92nd minute, when Andrews battling for the ball and helping it on for Dulson who raced into the area before coolly beating Hannon to make it 2-1.

There was still time for Maidenhead to create one or two more moments of panic in the Torquay backline, but the visitors just about survived. First, the ball pin-balled around in their area, the ball just not falling kindly for a Magpies player. Then in the dying embers, keeper Van Stappershoef raced forward for a late corner. The ball sailed just over his head and play was stopped for a head injury in the area.

The result sees the Magpies drop to 14th, seven points off the top seven, while Torquay are up to third, eight points behind leaders Hornchurch.