Momentum builds as Maidenhead United eye Chelmsford clash after Bath rout

Josh Popoola scored twice in Maidenhead’s 4-0 win over Bath City. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United looked sharp and slick as the rain teemed down at Twerton Park on Tuesday night, scoring four times within an hour to triumph over the Romans of Bath City.

It was a performance reminiscent of the team’s 5-1 victory away to Bath in their 2016-17 National League South title winning season, and some Bath supporters felt Tuesday’s display was one of the best they’ve seen from a visiting team in many a season.

United bossed the first half, taking the lead after only 35 seconds when Jack Batten headed past his own keeper, however, while they weathered a couple of storms after that, with the crossbar coming to their aid on one occasion, they continued to press Bath with a belief and determination that they were the better side.

Josh Popoola slid home their second from a cross from the excellent Jordon Ragguette and Liam Dulson fired in their third before half-time. A clever finish from the impressive Popoola in the 52nd minute capped off the scoring and the Romans trudged off beaten and somewhat bedraggled looking by the end of the 90 minutes.

“I think the rain helped us. It made the pitch very slick which helped us,” he said.

“We passed the ball well and looked quick and sharp. Hopefully we have a bit of wet weather to make the pitches a bit more slippery because they’ve just been very dry and the ball hasn’t been moving quick because of the surfaces.

“Yeah, he (Jordon Ragguette) did well but he’s only played six games for the club. Most players have only played six games for the club. It’s going to take them time. It’s a whole new team and I always said it would take time.”

For manager Alan Devonshire it’s a performance that’s been coming from this new group of players. They’ve needed time to understand each other’s games and what’s required from the Magpies’ management team, but they’ve been getting there in recent matches.

Against Dover Athletic on Saturday, they were better than the 2-1-win scoreline suggested, with assistant boss Ryan Peters believing they should have been four goals to the good by half-time at The Crabble.

And having been booed off by a selection of the crowd at home to Horsham the previous weekend, United dusted themselves down and dominated the second half to run out deserved 2-1 winners.

Tuesday’s display was their best yet, across all aspects, but Devonshire isn’t getting carried away.

“Yeah, it was a good performance last night, but it’s been coming to be fair,” he said.

“It’s a new group and it was always going to take them a while to settle down. We’ve also had some injuries but we’re doing ok. I’m not going to get carried away but we’re doing ok.”

Tuesday’s magnificent performance and result means they’ve now won three league games in a row, and they’ll go looking for a fourth when Chelmsford City come to town on Saturday. They’ll go into the game without club captain Will de Havilland who was forced off with an injury during the second half on Tuesday. Will showed his goal scoring threat by scoring both of the side’s goals in Saturday’s win at Dover.

The Clarets also have 11 points from their matches so far and sit ninth in the table, three places below the Magpies who leapt up eight spots with Tuesday’s win in Somerset.

“I know a few of their (Chelmsford) players and they’ve got a couple of boys from the National League so, it’s going to be tough but we’re in good form and we’ll go in there confident,” added Devonshire.

“For the first 10 games the league table will change every game.

“We’ll have a little check after 10 games, and we’ll see where we’re at. That’s the time to have a look at things and we can re-evaluate where we want to be after that.”

Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Maidenhead also welcomed defender Miles Welch-Hayes back into the fold on a permanent deal after he impressed while on loan at York Road last season.

He said: “Miles can play, and Remy can play. They’re both full backs and centre halves. We needed some cover in those positions.

“Will (de Havilland) is going to be out for this weekend.”