Holden gets a hand to It – But Popoola's spot-kick sends Maidenhead fifth

Josh Popoola celebrates his winning penalty. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Lenny Holden got a big hand to Josh Popoola’s 92nd minute penalty at York Road on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to keep the ball out of the net or prevent Maidenhead from snatching a 2-1 lead right at the very death.

These two promotion contenders had largely cancelled each other in a very even clash - the second of which they’ve had this season.

And for the second time, Maidenhead edged it by a single goal. It was Matt Robinson’s thumping volley at the Gallagher Stadium, and Popoola’s well-struck but saveable penalty which just sneaked over the line this time.

Earlier in the game, Remy Clerima had ghosted in at the near post to direct a downward header past Holden to make it 1-0. That goal came just when Maidenhead were working their way into the game after making a slowish start - slow, at least, in comparison to the blistering and brilliant football they’d played in their mid-week 2-0 win over AFC Totton.

“First half, although I don’t think we played particularly well, we should have had three goals,” said Peters.

“So, we came in a little bit frustrated because if you don’t take your chances against a team this good, it could come back to bite you. And when they scored late, we felt it had come back to bite us.

But now we’re showing that little bit of extra resilience and we fought through to the 95th and 96th minute. Alfie came on and gave us a slightly different profile, and he ends up having quite an impact.

“We struggled once they brought on their big striker and we struggled to win any first contacts. And off the back of losing the first contact, we then struggled to get the second contact as well. So, we got penned in a bit.

“But what we do have now is a little bit of faith now and belief that we’ll create one extra chance. We kept going and at that point, we’d probably have been okay with a draw, but we’re never going to stop and the opportunity presented itself.”

Maidstone had begun the game the brighter of the teams, but they were largely snuffed out by Will de Havilland and Miles Welch-Hayes and Ryan Bartley, and more particularly Jordi Van Stappershoef, who came to the Magpies’ rescue with a brilliant stop from Jamie Yila after the hosts had forged ahead.

Maidenhead had another go in early stages of the second half as they attempted to kill off Maidstone’s resistance - and they might have done so had de Havilland’s back post header not struck the outside of the post from Liam Dulson’s chipped cross.

But instead, the visitors came back into contention, equalising through the impressive Riley Court and then pushing on in a bid to score a winner. That may have been harsh on the Magpies but the Stones wouldn’t have cared much about that with Hamzad Kargbo heading wide and Court seeing one effort saved by Van Stappershoef and another dragged wide of the post.

Ryan Peters said afterwards he’d have settled for a point at that stage, but the hosts had one last weapon in their armoury in Alfie Pendlebury. Brought on as a second half substitute for Josh Umerah, he managed to make the most of a hopeful Dillon De Silva cross and was brought down as he sought to make it 2-1.

The penalty was awarded and Popoola scored it, Holden’s block on the ball merely slowing it down but not stopping it as it bounced in.

“Between the two strikers, Josh Umerah and Alfie, they’re different profiles,” added Peters.

“Both very good strikers. When we took Josh Umerah off at the start of the season, we maybe didn’t have a good enough, like for like replacement.

“So, we have no problem taking him off to give him a rest with the number of games that he’s played. Alfie is now pushing for a start, that will come soon because of the number of games we have. We knew these four weeks would test us as we look to finish in the play-offs. We’ve still got a long way to go but this was a good start.

“It’s the business end of the season. There were some games in December when we played well but didn’t get anything out of those games. So, right now, I’m not really fussed how we get the points if we can find a way to get over the line. We’ve got to keep pushing those boys above us and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Relief all round York Road then and a win which lifts the Magpies to fifth, now just four points off second placed Hornchurch after a couple of surprise results for the teams chasing leaders Dorking. The top three in fact were all beaten - Dorking by Dagenham, Worthing by Tonbridge and Hornchurch by Maidenhead’s local neighbours Slough Town.

United are back in action at Worthing tomorrow evening (Tuesday). They’ll travel there with confidence but also knowing their hosts have lost just once in the league on their own patch all season. Should the Magpies manage to win, they’ll move level with Worthing on points but stay behind them on goal difference with a game in hand.

Peters said: “We’ll go there full of confidence, but Worthing are an exceptional side. Alongside their home record, I think their striker is also the top goalscorer, so we’ll know we must be very good in both boxes. But we’ve got the belief and there will be some rotation somewhere but we’re raring to go.”