Maidenhead United succumbed to a late defeat against Bromley on Bank Holiday Monday, their second of the season.
In a similar fashion to the last encounter between the two sides at York Road, Maidenhead’s defending late on in the game is what let them down.
The hosts were clearly the more promising of the two sides in the first half, creating the majority of chances. Joseph Ellul would come closest to scoring as his header was cleared off the line by Bromley’s star defender, Marc-Anthony Okoye.
The heat continued to blaze the pitch entering the second half, and with only a day’s rest between Saturday’s victory at Yeovil, fatigue was always going play a factor in the match.
A quiet start to the second half saw little action, but the Magpies’ back four did well to keep out any chances Bromley could throw at them.
That was interrupted, however, when Shamir Fenelon drove well up the right-hand side of the pitch and found Danny Whitehall in the box. With any chance of a shot blocked, Whitehall cleverly offloaded to Josh Smile who struck home in the 65th minute.
The visitors were quick to respond. Just over ten minutes late, Michael Cheek intercepted a clearance and slotted the ball through to Reeco Hackett-Fairchild who beat Taye Ashby-Hammond from close range.
A stunning piece of link-up play between Ellul and Whitehall would nearly give the Magpies another lead, but Bromley ‘keeper Mark Cousins done well to prevent a second.
Ultimately, Bromley would take all three points back to London when Hackett-Fairchild would dribble round a tired United defence and net the ball into the bottom left corner.
Magpies: Ashby-Hammond, Steer, Ellul, Fenelon (Sheckleford, 75′), Comley (Mensah, 90′), Whitehall, Twumasi, Akintunde (Kelly, 78′), Upward, Massey (C), Smile (GOAL 65′). Unused subs: Keetch, Landers
Bromley: Cousins, Kizzi, Wood, Okoye, Raymond, Cheek, Bingham, Mekki (Coulson, 46′), Bush, Klass (Rees, 61), Hackett-Fairchild (GOAL 77′, 89′). Unused subs: Dunne, Henry, Ollie.
