Thames Valley Premier League – Premier Division.
On Saturday I had the pleasure of visiting another of the remaining clubs in Berkshire I’d not yet had the chance to see play at home, this time it was Maidenhead Town. They were founded in 2004 and in a way Ron Manager would’ve been proud, literally in a local park with jumpers for goalposts! Fast forward twenty years and the club has grown to be a successful step seven club with higher ambitions and, through links with Maidenhead Boys & Girls FC, they have a pathway for players of all age groups into adult football.
After several seasons at Bisham Abbey, they are now plying their trade at Burnham’s impressive 1878 Stadium and they are poised to take their next leap forward, this time into step six football. Speaking to Chairman Jeff Beck, they have reached all the criteria and have been accepted to take the next step up in grade but are just holding fire until they receive a confirmation email from the FA before the serious planning can begin. You know what the FA’s can be like!
If you venture to the ground on a matchday you’ll receive a very friendly welcome on the gate, entry is £5 for an adult and they have an online programme available. On this lovely sunny day the match was against local rivals Newbury Town, a club I’ve also only recently visited who were sitting in fifth place in the table, with the hosts sitting comfortably in third. You can check out the online programme by clicking here.
Regular readers will know I think the food is always great at the 1878 Stadium, with an extensive menu at a very reasonable price so you’ll never go hungry if you visit!
After catching up with several friends made over the last few years and talking to both Jeff and Jason Collie, Maidenhead’s media guru, it was time to for the main event to start.
The game started with both teams playing some nice football in the middle of the park but without translating that into clear chances. From the outset Maidenhead’s George Fairbairn looked lively and his run from his own box to the oppositions opened up a chance for Mitchell Burley, His first time shot was blocked with shouts for a handball which were waved away by referee Dave Masters.
The game sparked into life on 26 minutes with the home side taking the lead through a cracking team goal. A flowing passing move involving Jamie Wakelin and Ash Lamb resulted in the former having time and space to curl a beauty past the keeper and into the top corner. 1-0
Newbury came storming back and just three minutes later levelled the scores. A surging run from midfield by Chad Abrams took him past a couple of defenders and to the right side of the area, he slid a ball across the six yard box where Daniel Santos Keskin was waiting to sidefoot into the net. 1-1
Just two minutes later Maidenhead were back in front, a fantastic run down the right and pull back into the area from Alex Badshah, found captain Mitchell Burley and he made no mistake from close range. 2-1
Next Fairbairn made another burst down the left, shooting first time with the ball coming off the keepers’ arm and rebounding to Lamb but he couldn’t get a clean shot away and the keeper was able to save comfortably at his near post.
H-T: Maidenhead Town 2 Newbury Town 1
The first chance of the second half came from a defensive mistake. The Newbury number 12 picked up the loose ball on the left edge of the area before drifting inside and tried to curl the ball into the far corner only for Alex Collie in the home goal to dive full length and tip it around the post.
Brave defending kept Newbury in the game when a ball inside the full back sent Fairbairn free. He squared the ball to Lamb whose shot was blocked, Badshah and Wakelin both picked up rebounds only for the Newbury defence to get blocks in on both of their efforts and eventually clear.
Newbury were still pushing forward for an equaliser with another effort just going past the post but they were caught on the break soon after. A lovely slide rule pass from Wakelin inside the full back picked out the run of Fairbairn who calmly held off the challenge and lifted the ball past the onrushing keeper. 3-1
It wasn’t long before the hosts made sure of the three points. A good run and pass across the box from Craig Slattery found Lamb on the edge of the area. He was faced by three defenders but managed to shift the ball to his right and curl the ball past the unsighted keeper and into the bottom corner. 4-1
The home side nearly made it five in spectacular style moments later, Alan Adams crossing for Ryan Adams to hit a first time volley form 25 yards out which rattled the top of the crossbar.
There was still time left for the visitors to grab a consolation goal. Their number 17 cutting in from the right who just delayed his shot to give himself more space before firing the ball past Collie. 4-2
F-T: Maidenhead Town 4 Newbury Town 2
An entertaining game with both sides looking to play attacking football. Maidenhead looked a good side and could have won by more on the day. George Fairbairn standing out as someone who has pace and runs at defenders which none of them like playing against. He took his goal well too and was involved in most of Maidenhead’s chances.
Newbury play some nice football, plenty of one touch triangles but they seemed to have a lack of a cutting edge in the final third.
Really enjoyed my day and will be back next season when hopefully Maidenhead will be taking on their first season at step six. They are looking for more sponsors to help them with this new challenge so if you can help or know someone interested in sponsoring a forward thinking local club, I’m sure they’d love to hear from you!
Newbury, like many teams following the wet winter are playing catch up. This was their fourth game in seven days and they’ve still to play another two Monday and Wednesday to finish their league season and that’s not including cup games! Good luck to them for the rest of this season and next, I’m sure our paths will cross again in 26/27!