Alan Devonshire sees red in Maidenhead United’s defeat against Notts County

Maidenhead United 0, Notts County 4

Alan Devonshire was sent to the dressing room and told not to return for his heated comments made towards the referee in Maidenhead United’s 4-0 defeat against Notts County on Tuesday evening.

Having seen Josh Coley and skipper Alan Massey pick up respective bookings on the stroke of half-time, with the Magpies already a goal down courtesy of Jim O’Brien, boss Devonshire saw red for his complaints to referee James Durkin as they walked off the pitch.

The match took another twist when goalkeeper Rhys Lovett was forced to come off through injury five minutes after the break and midfielder James Comley was thrown the gloves to stand in for the 23-year-old stopper.

The Magpies attacked well and wholeheartedly guarded their makeshift ‘keeper for the best part of 15 minutes before their visitors broke through the black and white defence with O’Brien slotting away his second of the game.

The flood gates were well and truly open now and on the 75th minute, County were presented the chance to put the game beyond doubt from the penalty spot after Kyle Wootton was cynically dragged down.

Up stepped O’Brien who smashed away the spot kick to complete his hat-trick and extend the visitors’ advantage.

Maidenhead’s attacks were futile and, lacking a significant target man, their series of crosses throughout the match were calmly collected by the agile Sam Slocombe. Their most notable sight of goal was from Coley’s free kick which wrapped around the wall and whistled past the woodwork on the 78th minute.

Just moments after this effort, however, County had their fourth goal through a quick counter-attack concluding with Ruben Rodrigues sliding a low shot under the onrushing Comley.

Had Devonshire been in the dug-out after the interval, the game’s complexion might have been a lot different. But for criticising the officiating in the manner the Magpies' boss did, the primary shade of the match come full-time, was notably red.

An honest assessment of the Magpies’ performance from @TheOneComs who took the gloves from Rhys Lovett after he went off injured. #MAIvNOT pic.twitter.com/SyU1zbD9yX

— Joshua Browne (@JoshuaB_BM) May 11, 2021