Maidenhead 0-0 City

[Logistics]

Probably a fair result on the day with neither side really showing much creativity in the final third to get the elusive goal.

Neither keeper had a save in anger to make, if anything you’d say that the Maidenhead keeper was busier with two long range shots he had to deal with, while his teammates were too busy smashing balls over the crossbar and out the ground.

Good to get that first clean-sheet on the board, and certainly another positive performance to build upon.

Bring on Boreham Wood on Monday!

[clive]

I thought Haigh made two top saves in the first half, and probably a third as Zimba seemed certain to score but a corner was awarded, so I presume Haigh made the save. I thought it was between him and Carroll for the man of the match.

It was my first view of Moore and Kirby in a City shirt and I thought they both had good games. I am not sure they would be selected ahead of Williams Bushell and Zac, but look important additions to the squad.

Still, two consecutive away draws helps build momentum so onward to Monday.

As usual, attached in my detailed report for anyone interested

fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2023/08/maidenhead-united-0-0-oxford-city-att.html

[Rijs]

Thank you once again for the detailed report, Clive.

[ChrisB]

Thanks for the report Clive. Always good to get a thorough and balanced account of what occurred.

[Graeme]

Definitely a game where a draw was a fair outcome.

Maidenhead had more and better chances but City the greater share of possession and played most of the football. Maidenhead's remorseless long ball game was only interupted by a couple of spells in the second half when they had periods of possession. Otherwise they seemed unable to string together any sustained passing movement. It may have kept them in the league and allowed their club to grow but it was dire stuff really. City too gave the ball away more than usual and things just didn't quite click in the final third, the wrong pass or run often leading to a promising move petering out. The introduction of Potter was i suspect not to be more defensive but to help link play up better in the offensive third and it worked to a certain extent. City really turned the screw for a concerted period after Alfie's introduction. Oli Sanderson coming on was also part of that attacking intent.

Good to see Oli back and on loan full time this season. I'm sure he will be amongst the goals. BTW i don't think Zico was on loan from Fulham he had left and was our player. Agree Tafari had a good game, playing on the right hand side where he played for the Arsenal academy teams. Nya has fitted in well, he has a superb passing range and did well on a wet sloping pitch. As mentioned above both are great additions to the squad. Nya came from Palace though, his EFL experience mentioned in the review was on loan from them. Canice was however very much the MOTM for me.

Great that we have started being hard to beat. Also really encouraging how strong our bench was today: Alfie, Zac, Oli,Joe Wilson and Tom Harrison. Lattrell who is a real prospect not even in the squad, nor Marcin B.

[clive]

Thanks Greame. I have checked and agree Zico had been released by Fulham, so I have corrected that ! Whilst Nya may have joined us from Palace, he never played a competitive game for them.

[Graeme]

Hi Clive, pedantic alert here but he seems to have made his Crystal Palace debut in the EFL Cup in September 2020 against AFC Bournemouth. True he played no Premier League games but I think he made the bench.

Either way, whilst I'm sure you are right Zac will come straight back into the team once fully fit, Nya has some wonderful attributes and playing regularly in the men's game will add different facets to his game. He looks a real find.

[clive]

Wikipedia is inconsistent ! In its stats it says Nya didn't play for Palace, but as you say, in the narrative it says he played against Bournemouth in the EFL Cup !

[Graeme]

Aug 27, 2023 19:41:30 GMT clive said:

Wikipedia is inconsistent ! In its stats it says Nya didn't play for Palace, but as you say, in the narrative it says he played against Bournemouth in the EFL Cup !

Yes BBC slightly more reliable. They have Nya starting the game and being replaced by Andros Townsend after 70 minutes. To be fair Wikipedia's headline stats appear to be league games only. Having come through the academy I bet those 70 minutes meant an awful lot to Nya though.