Maidenhead United hold promotion chasers Bromley to a deserved draw at York Road

Kevin Lokko returned to the Magpies side following injury against Bromley. Photo: Darren Woolley

--

Maidenhead United 0, Bromley 0

Maidenhead United held promotion chasing Bromley to a deserved draw at York Road this afternoon and could so easily have won it as the sides traded chances in the second half.

United came into the clash off the back of a mixed Christmas period, having seen their unbeaten league run ended by Wealdstone in a 2-0 defeat on Boxing Day.

However, Bromley – who are looking to cut the gap on leaders Chesterfield to put themselves back in the title race – never had things all their own way in an even clash which swayed one way and then the other.

Andy Woodman’s side will feel they edged the first half, but the Magpies created the game’s better chances and even had the ball in the net through the returning Kevin Lokko in the 10th minute.

Lokko has been out of the side for several months through injury, but he made his presence felt in an excellent defensive display from the Magpies and he’ll be disappointed not to get his name on the scoresheet after hooking home from close range in the first half.

Initially, it looked like the referee had awarded the goal, however, it was chalked off for some kind of obstruction in the build up to his strike and his celebrations were cut short.

The best of the game’s chances came as the game opened up in the latter stages following the introduction of Maidenhead’s Shawn McCoulsky for Chanka Zimba.

Twice in the final 15 minutes McCoulsky could – and probably should – have given the Magpies a precious lead and had he managed to find the back of Grant Smith’s net, few of a Bromley persuasion could have begrudged the Magpies their win.

His first opportunity arrived in the 78th minute, when Sam Barratt’s deflected drive from inside the box arrived at his feet. He managed to hook the ball goalwards with his first touch, but Bromley players managed to hack the ball away on their own goal line with Smith well beaten.

Then came the chance of the game with five minutes to go. Barratt intercepted a poor clearance and returned the ball with interest to the feet of McCoulsky. The substitute had only Smith to beat but he pushed his shot just the wrong side of the post with many inside York Road thinking the ball had nestled in the net.

At the other end, Bromley also created their fair share of chances and also hit the post through Sam Woods in the second half.

The best of their first half opportunities saw Michael Cheek – the scorer of two goals in Bromley’s 4-1 rout of Maidenhead back in September – send a left-footed shot whistling wide of the post in the 13th minute.

In the 30th minute Cheek was denied again by a brave block from Massey inside the six-yard box, while Massey and Lokko headed away several dangerous crosses in both halves as Bromley just failed to fire in the final third.

When they did break down Maidenhead’s resilient defence, the post came to the hosts’ rescue with Woods’ hooking a low cross onto the base of the upright in the 55th minute.

Having survived a good spell of pressure from Maidenhead in the closing 15 minutes, with Smith denying his namesake Reece Smith on 90 minutes, the visitors very nearly stole it at the death, with Woods prodding the ball just wide from a long throw in the final seconds. A few minutes earlier, the Bromley fans behind the goal thought they’d won it when Josh Passley got up in front of Ross to head the ball goalwards, but the ever-dependable Massey was there on the line to clear and earn his side a deserved share of the spoils.

The result was just about fair on both teams, and the point leaves the Magpies in 13th place, a point behind Wealdstone who were beaten 2-0 by Ebbsfleet United today. Bromley did close the gap to Chesterfield, who weren’t in action, but this will feel like a missed opportunity for them. They remain six points adrift having played three games more than the Spireites.