Red card proves the turning point as Maidenhead United close in on play-off places

Sam Barratt. Credit: Maidenhead United/Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United 3, Enfield Town 0

Maidenhead United moved to within three points of the play-off places after comfortably seeing off 10-man Enfield Town with three second half goals at York Road.

The Towners made life difficult for the Magpies throughout the first period and were arguably the better team until midfielder Ruaridh Donaldson was sent off in the 38th minute after collecting two quick bookings.

The first one looked harsh as he tangled with Jaiden Celestine-Charles, and he knew next to nothing about the second, tripping up Asher Yearwood after the midfielder had passed him with a clever drag back.

It proved the turning point in the game and, while the Towners survived through to half-time without conceding, they were overrun by a United side who stepped up the tempo significantly after the break.

There was an element of controversy about the Magpies opener on the hour mark. Enfield felt Lamar Reynolds was fouled by David Mantle in the build-up, but the hosts swept forward and created space for Liam Dulson to strike the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. The Towners had another man down injured as the move progressed, but referee Callum Fisk allowed play to continue and the Magpies profited.

A second goal followed 11 minutes later. Forced to chase the game, the visitors were caught up field and Dulson again broke forward with a surging run into the penalty area. He slipped a pass into the path of Yearwood, who was tripped and the Magpies were awarded a spot-kick.

Sam Barratt – an early second half substitute for Jaiden Celestine-Charles – stepped up to slam the ball home from the penalty spot.

United were then in cruise control and it was just a case of how many they’d score from that moment on.

Their third came in the 78th minute and again Dulson was involved. His initial strike was blocked, Josh Popoola – who had a quiet game by his standards – tried to leap on the rebound and the ball squirmed into the path of Barratt who had the easiest of tasks to roll the ball into the unguarded net.

The Magpies might have had one or two more in the closing stages, with Barratt going close to his hat-trick with a shot that Josh Wright saved well. Popoola also had a couple of low efforts which flashed wide at the near post, but a fourth goal would have been harsh on the Towners, who’d competed well until the 38th minute.

Opportunities were relatively thin on the ground in the first period, with Celestine-Charles side-footing wide from a Dulson cross in the 23rd minute. He later dragged another effort off target from Dulson’s pass after Enfield had been reduced to 10 men.

Enfield though also had their moments. Ollie Knight drew a fantastic challenge from captain Will de Havilland in the seventh minute when he looked to test Jordi Van Stappershoef, while Billy Leonard sent a volley on the stretch just over the bar in the 17th minute after anticipating Nino Adom-Malaki’s fine cross from the left. They also had a moment when the ball was pinballing around the Magpies area, but the ball didn’t run kindly for anyone in yellow and blue and the hosts’ survived.

The result sees Maidenhead skip up to ninth, now three points off the top seven, while Enfield stay in 22nd place, four points from safety.  

It’s also now six wins in eight for Ryan Peters’ side, who’ll visit 11th placed Chesham United on Saturday. Chesham were 1-0 winners at Farnborough this afternoon

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Slough Town moved seven points clear of the relegation zone with a magnificent 3-0 win at Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday. 

All the goals came in the first half of the game at Vauxhall Road, with Wiktor Makowski striking twice in the 17th and 24th minutes and Tyrese Dyce adding a third goal deep into first half stoppage time.