Carter strike ends Maidenhead's winning run as Eastbourne stun the Magpies

Miles Welch-Hayes. Photo: MUFC

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Maidenhead United 0, Eastbourne Borough 1

Maidenhead United’s six-game winning streak in the National League South was ended by a close-range finish from Freddie Carter for Eastbourne Borough at York Road this afternoon.

The Magpies had shaded a cagey game of football for much of the opening hour, but they fell behind when Borough netted from their first corner kick in the 64th minute.

The ball was swung in from the right and Magpies keeper Jordi Van Stappershoef flapped at the ball, sending it spinning into the path of Carter who had time and space to slam the ball home.

Eastbourne travelled north for this clash having recently announced the departure of manager Matt Gray, and they played like a team who had a little extra impetus because of that.

This was an afternoon where it never quite clicked for the Magpies in an attacking sense.

They might have led in the 12th minute when a surging run from Remy Clerima - starting in central midfield for the absent Matt Robinson - led to the ball falling kindly for Liam Dulson inside the box, but the in-form forward couldn’t lift the ball over keeper Ryan Sandford.

On an afternoon when their final ball, cross or shot too often went astray, United struggled to build any momentum against a team who came into this weekend’s game without a win in the league this season.

There were big appeals for a penalty from the Magpies’ fans when Isaac Pitblado appeared to handle the ball from a corner kick in the 37th minute, but referee Ben Wyatt wasn’t interested. He also wasn’t when Manny Onariase clashed with Josh Anifowose in the Magpies area, so those two spot kick appeals cancelled each other out.

There was one chance of note in the half for Eastbourne, a header from Pemi Aderoju that Van Stappershoef comfortably saved.

United looked more like their old selves in the early stages of the second half when Dulson got in on goal down the left but opted to pull the ball back to a teammate rather than cross and the chance went begging. Seconds later Josh Popoola fed the ball through for substitute Corie Andrews, but he was snuffed out by the Eastbourne keeper and defenders at the near post.

The hosts tested the keeper again in the 56th minute when Popoola’s cross from the right reached Clerima at the far post, but his towering header was claimed by Sandford.

The goal that ultimately settled this underwhelming game of football arrived just after the hour mark. Van Stappershoef didn’t cover himself in any glory as he looked to claim the ball and Carter profited.

Maidenhead huffed and puffed in the closing stages and created a couple more chances of note in the 79th minute. First Popoola’s acrobatic effort inside the area was blocked behind for a corner, from which the ball was sent back in for Onariase to prod the ball wide at the front post. Clerima sent a tame shot on goal late on, but Eastbourne saw out the remainder of the game and four minutes of stoppage time to claim a much needed and very encouraging away win from their perspective.

Maidenhead drop to fifth in the table off the back of this result and have lost some ground on leaders Hornchurch and second placed Weston Super Mare, however, they have another game at home to Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday evening to bounce back quickly.

Eastbourne move onto eight points but stay in 22nd place.