Maidenhead United get one over Brentford in blistering conditions

Photo: Darren Woolley

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The Magpies maintained their impressive pre-season form with a 1-0 victory against a Brentford B team on Saturday afternoon with new signing Temi Eweka notably scoring his first goal for the club.

Beneath the beating sun at York Road the Bees registered the first attempt at goal, calling Magpies ‘keeper Dan Gyollai into action after 19 minutes before the linesman raised his flag for offside.

Having got their foot on the ball, Alan Devonshire’s men were much more clinical and, in the 25th minute, Eweka was able to turn the ball into the back of the net from Dan Sparkes’ free kick.

They could have doubled their advantage on several occasions in the opening 45 minutes as Emile Acquah struck the side netting while Koby Arthur was denied himself by the Bees’ defence.

Nathan Young-Coombes tested Gyollai with a free-kick next before Remy Clerima made a superb goalline clearance before half-time.

Much to the delight of the home support, the Magpies continued their intensity in both attack and defence after the break.

Midway through the second half, Josh Kelly found the back of the net only for the referee to blow his whistle for a foul in the build-up.

Now between the sticks, new signing Alexis Andre Jr kept the Bees out with an incredible reaction save and ensured his new side would finish the game as victors thereafter.

Speaking to media officer Grace Scott at full-time, Eweka: “It was tough, it was hot, and they kept passing it around. But the gaffer said if we kept the clean sheet, we’d go on to win the game and that’s what we done.

“We stayed defensively solid and let the boys up front do their business. To be fair, they didn’t score today, I did. I helped them out a bit.

“It’s been tough [stepping up from Bracknell Town] and I did a lot of work during the off-season to ready myself for the change. But, the boys have been welcoming and I’m enjoying it a lot.

“[This is] a lovely club. It’s literally everything I was told about from the gaffer. It’s a family club and very welcoming.”

Eweka added: “My target is to play as many games as possible [this season] and keep as many clean sheets as possible. Maybe help the team out with a couple more goals. We want to finish as high as possible and give the fans at York Road something to sing about and be happy about.”