Maidenhead managed to escape relegation for now after a 2-0 win at the Kuflink Stadium took them to the final day decider on Monday week. The Fleet looked comfortable after a goalless first-half but the second period saw the visitors score from two attacks to take all three points.

The Fleet made one change with Dominic Poleon starting in place of Maxx Manktelow but it was George Moncur who showed up early on with a low shot from the edge of the area but it was comfortably collected by Sam Howes. A tidy build up from the Fleet then allowed Poleon to break through on goal and though it appeared Howes handled the ball outside the area, he forced it into the path of Toby Edser who shot just over.

A shaky moment for the Fleet came as Mark Cousins misplaced a pass at the back but he recovered quickly to block Shawn McCoulsky’s effort.

The Fleet began to put the pressure on towards the Swanscombe End and Edser’s run took the ball into the box where his shot was forced out for a corner. Moncur whipped the set-piece into the area which met the head of Luke O’Neill and clipped the inside of the woodwork, only to then be eventually cleared by the Magpies.

Maidenhead were booed off by their fans at half-time but the second period began in their favour – and with their first real opportunity of the match n 50 minutes, they capitalised as a long throw released Brendan Kiernan. He slipped in McCoulsky who tucked the ball home from the edge of the area.

An equaliser almost arrived for the Fleet when Moncur’s attempt to send his volley on target was superbly tipped over by Howes. And it proved costly as Maidenhead would find a second on 59 minutes when Kiernan was left unmarked to receive from McCoulsky and finish via a deflection from close range.

The Fleet continued to fight for a way back into the match with half an hour left and had plenty of possession but few shots to show for it. Aaron Cosgrave saw an effort skew off target while Ben Chapman’s shot could only find the gloves of Howes.

Cousins, having been voted supporters’ player of the year for the second successive season, was forced into action when a shot to the far top corner by flew across goal and the Fleet keeper flung himself at it to pull off an excellent full-length save.

EUFC: Cousins, O’Neill (Manktelow 84), Lankshear, Olagunju, Chapman, Bolger, Carr (Tanga 64), Edser, Moncur, Cosgrave, Poleon (Harriott 75). Subs: Wright, Anthony, Aoraha, Goddard
MUFC: Howes, Welch-Hayes, Latty-Fairweather, Onariase, Clerima, Pettit (Massey 74), Ferguson (Johnson 90), Ferdinand, KIernan (Abrahams 78), Smith, McCoulsky (Wreh 81). Subs: Sho-Silva, Cochrane, Barratt
Attendance: 1,312 (162 away)
Photos: EUFC/Ed Miller

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