Confidence rising but caution remains: Magpies seal first win under interim boss Peters

Maidenhead United claimed a ‘statement win’ over the National League South leaders Hornchurch on Saturday, but new interim boss Ryan Peters has warned his players they’re only ever one poor defeat away from being on much shakier ground.

The future looks bright for the club this week off the back of a third straight league win, with the result lifting the Magpies back up to 10th in the table - only four points off the play-off places.

They’ve been here before this season, or higher in fact, when six straight league victories lifted the Magpies into the play-off places and raised hopes the club could bounce back into the National League at the very first attempt.

That may still be possible, and performances like Saturday’s 2-0 win over Hornchurch, will go some way towards giving the players the confidence and belief that promotion is possible.

However, consistency will be key, and the Magpies have also shown in two spells this season that they’re also capable of going on long and disappointing runs of form.

Peters will hope he’s seen the back of those ruts this season, and the new style and shape that’s been implemented in these last few wins should give confidence that this run of form is built on something more solid and can be sustained.

Will de Havilland gave the Magpies lift off on Saturday with a clever header from a corner in the 24th minute. Josh Umerah, Josh Popoola and others had good chances to double that lead before Jayden Mitchell-Lawson came off the bench to wrap up the points in second half stoppage time.

I thought we were really good value today,” said Peters.

“In the first 15 minutes it took us a while to adapt and understand what they were doing.

“But once we got that in our heads, I thought we were good. In transition I thought we were even better.

“We could have scored more goals in the first half. It’s probably the only aspect I’m disappointed with because if you allow a team to stay in the game, a team of this calibre, they maybe score from their header, and the game looks very different.

“But we’re really happy.

“We’ve been here before where you get lots of chances and think things are fine but then a goal goes in. What I will say is that defensively we were solid. People really did put their bodies on the line to make sure we got this victory and clean sheet against a terrific side.

“Going back four games, confidence was on its knees. Now, confidence is really high, and we’ve got to maintain that now.

“Today was a good day. The difference in some of the games we’ve played is that Hornchurch didn’t want to sit back. They wanted to win the game but because of that it created space.

“Other teams have come and parked the bus and made it more difficult to create chances. What I will say is that from a defensive standpoint we stood in the way of everything. When all seemed to be lost, in came Jordi with a save or a cross as well.

“I went to watch them against Hemel and they were incredibly dominant. I knew exactly what we needed to do from a defensive standpoint to prevent them from getting the same sort of chances. But we also needed the boys to know that we were at home and when we’re at home, we take the game to others. I thought we did that; there’s still more we can do though.

“I think it’s a statement, because they are top of the league. But we’re only ever one loss away from things looking very different.

United next face Reading’s u21s at home in the quarter finals of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup this evening (Tuesday) before they travel to Hampton & Richmond Borough for their next league game on Saturday.

“We now have the Berks & Bucks Cup game on Tuesday against a really good Reading side,” said Peters.

“We’ve got to make sure we prepare right and take one game at a time.

“We are well supported by the fans, and we’ve been well backed by the chairman.

“Therefore, we need to be in those positions where we can challenge for the league. You cannot challenge for the league if you lose as many games as we have done. When we’re playing indifferently, the challenge for the boys is not to lose and when we are in form, we win. But we don’t want to lose momentum.”

Saturday’s match was also notable for the return to competitive football of Harry Pritchard.

Afterwards, he posted: “581 Days since my last competitive game!! Been some tough days but what a feeling to be back out there on the pitch & especially get the 3 points.”