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Post by Hatboy on Sept 12, 2014 17:54:45 GMT
Maidenhead Preview (H) Published on Friday, 12 September 2014 14:26 Written by Jake Ellacott After three defeats on the trot to Eastbourne, Sutton and Ebbsfleet respectively, a well-deserved draw 1248866976against Bromley on Monday evening means the Saints look to have a turned a corner. The fixture computer was not very kind to City, with four games in a row against arguably the four toughest sides in the division, and picking up just one point from the twelve that were available demonstrates just how tough they were.
But, after Monday’s draw, managers Jimmy Gray and Graham Golds now have an easier run of games to look forward to, starting with Saturday’s fixture against Maidenhead United.
The Magpies have been playing in the Conference South since 2007, but have flirted with relegation on a number of occasions during that time, receiving a number of reprieves from the demises of other clubs. They will be hoping that this season will be different, and they have certainly started in a manner which could indicate that this season could be their best since the 2008-09 season, when they finished in sixth position, the highest league placing in the clubs history.
Maidenhead, who finished last season on 46 points, six ahead of relegated side Tonbridge Angels, have made an impressive start to the season, winning three, losing three and drawing just two. Those three victories came against Bishops Stortford, Staines, and most impressively, last season’s runners up Sutton United, who they defeated 2-1 on the opening day of the season. Picking up eleven points from their opening eight matches leaves the Magpies in eight place, two points off of the play-offs, and just one ahead of the Saints having played the same amount of games.
However, despite this relatively impressive start, the club from York Road have only won one of their last five league outings. That solitary victory came away to Staines Town at the weekend. It was an incident filled game, which saw Sanchez Ming sent off for the hosts, while Magpies boss Johnson Hippolyte was sent to the stands for his involvement, before his side swooped in to snatch the three points on Non-League Day.
Both the Saints and Maidenhead were involved in mid-week fixtures, with City hosting Bromley, while today’s visitors lost at home to Farnborough. Goals from the returning James Kaloczi, and captain Ben Martin were enough to secure a point for the Saints against a strong looking Bromley side, who went twice, but could not hold on against a much-changed St Albans side.
James Gray and Graham Golds go into the game with Sam Corcoran as the only expected absentee through injury. James Comley and Darren Locke, who both missed out through injury against Bromley could well make a return to the squad. However, with Monday evening’s much improved performance coming on the back of no less than four changes to the starting XI which lost to Ebbsfleet, the management team will have a number of decisions to make over the side which will start against Maidenhead.
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 12, 2014 18:27:03 GMT
Tomorrows best available odds:
Bishop Stortford (13/10)Draw (13/5) Bath City (2) Boreham Wood (3/4) Draw (29/10) Chelmsford (17/5) Concord Rangers (20/19) Draw (13/5) Wealdstone (5/2) Eastbourne (3/4) Draw (11/4) Hemel Hempstead (7/2) Farnborough (11/4) Draw (11/4) Bromley (1) Gosport Borough (17/11) Draw (13/5) Whitehawk (17/10) Havant & Waterlooville (11/8) Draw (12/5) Basingstoke Town (2) Hayes & Yeading (3) Draw (11/4) Ebbsfleet United (10/11) St Albans City (13/10) Draw (13/5) Maidenhead Utd (19/10) Sutton Utd (11/13) Draw (14/5) Staines Town (3)
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 13:27:23 GMT
Saints Starting XI: Welch; Kyriacou; Chappell; Kaloczi; Martin; Ward; Gorman; Comley; Frendo; Shields; Wales
Saints Substitutes: Pires; Clarke; Green; Locke; Keenleyside
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 13:57:04 GMT
Mitchell misses out through illness
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:09:22 GMT
Saints 0-1 Maidenhead, Clifton volleys home after a goal mouth scramble
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:10:06 GMT
7th minute goal
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:14:20 GMT
Saints have had a couple of chances saved
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:19:19 GMT
Shields 1 on 1, GK saves at feet
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:20:44 GMT
Maidenhead United's goalscorer sent off for pushing a City player
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:26:16 GMT
Chappell's corner actually goes into the net, but ref rules it out for a foul
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:27:43 GMT
Frendo shot brilliantly saved
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:32:10 GMT
1-1, Ben Martin header to Wales, who's volley flies past the GK and in!
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:35:33 GMT
Saints 2-1! Chappell's FK from 40 yards out, floats in, GK misjudges, and it goes in!
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:42:22 GMT
3-1! Tom Ward long ball to Chappell, to who slots it past the GK
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:43:23 GMT
Maidenhead hit the woodwork!
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:46:18 GMT
4 minutes of additional time
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:50:51 GMT
HT: 3-1
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 14:56:26 GMT
After A battling draw on Monday, you can see the confidence has come back as we lead at half time. Another early goal conceded which is a concern, but City battle back, and should have been on level terms even before Maidenhead had their goal scorer sent off.
Since the Red card, the Saints have been very much on top, and will hopefully keep up the tempo in the second half. Maidenhead still pose a threat.
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 13, 2014 14:58:03 GMT
Lee Chappell my lord Lee Chappell
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 15:07:38 GMT
Back under-way!
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 15:08:59 GMT
Sub: Green on for the injured Gorman
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 15:22:00 GMT
Tom Ward sent off for second yellow... both teams down to 10
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 15:27:03 GMT
Sub: pires on for Frendo
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 15:28:07 GMT
ATT: 707
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 15:34:39 GMT
Keenleyside on for Shields
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 15:51:20 GMT
4 minutes added on
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 15:52:41 GMT
4-1! Keeno to Chappell, who slots it home! Hat-trick!
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 15:57:01 GMT
FT: 4-1
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Post by Saint on Sept 13, 2014 16:55:52 GMT
Jimmy post match- Corcoran still a few weeks away, Ward picked up injury, but should be fine, and no other real concerns.
Still looking for 2 or 3 quality players to add, but very happy with today.
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Post by westwalessaint on Sept 13, 2014 17:01:29 GMT
Great win. Shame about Ward being sent off. Frendo hasn't scored again. How did he play? Good news is that we're scoring goals. Need to win at Wealdstone next week. Well done team and management for turning things around. Quite good crowd too. I guess Maidenhead didn't bring many fans with them?
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