Peters' second half shake-up sparks Maidenhead United's 3-0 win over Enfield

Credit: Maidenhead United/Zane Holmes Photography.

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Ryan Peters didn’t hang around long to make changes in the second half of Maidenhead United’s 3-0 win over Enfield Town on Saturday.

The result may have looked routine on paper – and for much of the second half, the Magpies were indeed in cruise control.

However, they lacked fluency on a heavy pitch in the first half and didn’t really get a foothold in the game until Ruaridh Donaldson was sent off for a second bookable offence after tripping Asher Yearwood in the 41st minute.

That’s when Peters made some changes to galvanise his troops. United immediately changed shape to try and get some joy against Enfield’s diligent and dogged defence.

Millwall’s on loan striker Jaiden Celestine-Charles had dragged the best chance of the first half wide of the post, and he was switched for Sam Barratt early in the second half, another change which helped the Magpies unpick their visitors.

Liam Dulson broke the deadlock when he arrowed the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area in the 60th minute, and Barratt scored twice more – from the penalty spot in the 71st minute and from close range in the 78th – to complete a comfortable home win.

The result eased memories of the Magpies’ painful home defeat against Slough Town’s 10 men on Boxing Day and coming off the back of a well-earned away win at Horsham two weeks ago, United are very much back in contention for a top seven finish.

Enjoy a recap of our 3-0 win over Enfield Town with our match highlights, now available online

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Reflecting on the changes made by the management team throughout the game, Aaron O’Brien said: “I think we’ll do that throughout the year if we’re not happy with something or we feel we need something different.

“Sammy’s (Barratt) not normally a striker, but we put him up there and he played between the width of the 18-yard box. He got a striker’s tap in which we’re pleased with, and we know what he can do from dead ball situations. He did well dropping off and linking play for us.

“We’re delighted for him. We wanted a clean sheet; the second goal settles us down. Our home form hasn’t been the greatest and we referred to that as well.”

There was an element of controversy about Maidenhead’s opener, with Enfield complaining they’d had a player fouled in the build-up, with another player down injured off the ball as well. But O’Brien felt they had little to complain about.

“I don’t think it was a foul. David (Mantle) got a great toe on the ball and we moved from there,” he said. “They had a chance to kick the ball out of play when their player was down and they had possession.

“They decided not to and we then won the ball back and got it to Duls (Dulson). He needs to shoot more with the quality he’s got in my opinion. He’s done that today and scored a great goal and I’m pleased for him.

“Against Horsham he had the mishap of missing the penalty, but with his quality, we’re going to back him all the way, and he needs to back himself as well.”

United now move on to a tough looking away game at Chesham on Saturday. The Generals sit just a few points behind them in the league in 11th place.

“It’s been a good run,” added O’Brien. “We’re pleased with it. Earlier in the season, we didn’t win for four and then we went on a bit of a run, then we didn’t win for six or seven and went on another run.

“We said after the Slough game, we can’t do that, we had to bounce straight back. When we lose or draw games, we’ve got to bounce straight back and that’s what we’ve done. Next stop Chesham.”