County fans of a generous disposition at York Road will have felt genuine sympathy for Maidenhead who gave arguably the best footballing display of any of our opponents this term only to suffer defeat with a goal six minutes into added time.  The rest will have just enjoyed the result, the post match celebrations and the journey home!

The first half was a strange affair in which County strolled into a two goal lead without having to extend themselves.  Both goals were headers from corners and Maidenhead manager Johnson Hippolyte will doubtless have questioned his team’s defending from the set pieces, but as County have often found to their cost over the years, a powerful and commanding centre forward can upset the best laid defensive plans.  It is still a mystery though why JULIAN ALSOP was left unattended at Richard Evans’ flag kick delivery on six minutes and he directed his header into the corner of the net.

The second goal on 23 minutes was doubtless a product of the training ground with Jason Bowen and Evans combining to create the chance for CHARLIE GRIFFIN to delight the County masses behind the goal at the Station End of the ground.  The heavily outnumbered home fans must have felt like strangers in their own back yard as the away contingent celebrated what looked like proving the easiest three points of the season.  But to their credit, Maidenhead bounced back with some slick attacking moves producing nine first half corners of their own for no reward.  Their best effort came on 27 minutes when the impressive Lee Newman created space to fire a shot hard and low to the left of Glyn Thompson, but the County keeper produced the clean handling which has become his trade mark to dive full length and take the ball. 

However, it was County who were closest to another first half goal when first a clearance by home keeper Louis Wells rebounded off Alsop to almost leave the Maidenhead number one with a whole omelette on his face.  Alsop then thundered a header against the crossbar from an Evans cross on 41 minutes and with no goals conceded by County in almost seven and a half hours against peer group opposition, perhaps an air of complacency was creeping in.  If that was the case, Maidenhead stunned the away contingent by taking charge after the break.  Video evidence supports the view that Alsop was fouled in the build up to their first goal on 49 minutes but LEE NEWMAN produced some slick footwork to give Thompson no chance.

There could be no complaint about Maidenhead’s second 10 minutes later when a neat interchange between Newman and MANNY WILLIAMS down the right resulted in the former Yeading player, who is making a habit of scoring against County, extending his sequence.  County then spent long spells pinned back in defence though the home side found it difficult to create openings and an injured Newman had to be substituted, probably to the relief of the County defenders.  The home supporters found their voices to comment upon the respective sporting merits of England and Wales, but they were made to choke on their words.

Nevertheless it looked like Errol Telemaque was going to be a home hero in the 79th minute only for the outstretched hand of Thompson to touch his shot onto an upright.  When the rebound bounced off the head of the unsighted keeper to safety, fate was clearly intervening on County’s side.  Almost immediately Griffin had a great chance to give the visitors an undeserved lead but home keeper Wells was starting to take his cue from the other end of the field and made a very good save.

Griffin then gave way to Craig Hughes who was as determined as ever to make an impact.  The Newport fans were vainly trying to convince themselves that an away draw would be a good result when Guppy launched himself forward to run onto a Nathan Davies through ball.  He still had work to do when he was tripped by Bobby Behzadi just outside the box earning the Iraqi defender the game’s only booking.

The tension built as Ian Hillier, Bowen and Lee Jarman stood debating who was going to go for glory with the free-kick before it was Jarman who took the responsibility and connected sweetly, while HUGHES gave a perfect demonstration of the striker’s art to net the rebound after Wells had blocked the defender’s effort.  The goal was greeted with delirium and disbelief before, seconds later, the final whistle sounded enabling County to sneak away from the scene with the three points safely tucked away.  Maidenhead were left licking their wounds and with just two points to show from six home games, they are probably dreading the thought of a return to the Southern League from whence they came last spring.  This performance should give them confidence that they can avoid that fate.

Man of the Match:

Maidenhead:  Lee Newman (a lively front runner)

County:  Glyn Thompson (two outstanding saves).