Maidenhead United weather the storm to close gap on National League South leaders

Maidenhead’s Matt Robinson battles for the ball. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Finding a way to win matches while not necessarily being at their best has been ‘incredibly beneficial’ for Maidenhead United over the past few weeks, according to assistant manager Ryan Peters.

United haven’t always played fluent, flowing football over the past couple of months, but they’ve racked up six straight league victories and have their sights firmly set on a seventh when Eastbourne Borough visit York Road on Saturday week (October 18).

In blustery conditions on Saturday, they dominated the first half beat Worthing 1-0 thanks to a first half strike from Liam Dulson   that followed a rushed clearance from the visiting keeper Seb Stacey.

  They were then pressed back a bit more by their opponents, and the windy conditions in the second half, but found a way to grind out a satisfying 1-0 win.

 The visitors did have two penalty appeals waved away by the referee, while Harry Ransom was also sent off in the closing stages following two crude challenges on Corie Andrews which picked up two bookings.

Peters said: “Yeah, finding a way to win when you’re not necessarily playing well is even more beneficial to us.

“We know we can do more and there’s more to come. But those moments, when you’re not quite at your best, to still find a way to win and stay within that pack is good.

“With Liam Dulson and some other players, we know we’ve made some good signings. When we were in the league above it was harder to find the right individuals because we couldn’t necessarily afford the right players for that league.

“But coming down a step, we’ve now become a bigger fish and players seem to want to come here. Liam has got terrific pedigree. We’re delighted to have acquired his services and he’s providing for us.”

Peters admitted afterwards the weather had been a leveller, and Worthing’s insistence on trying to play their way out from the back in such conditions played into Maidenhead’s hands in the first half. They really should have had more than a 1-0 lead at the interval and might have paid the price for that in the second half, but for another well-disciplined defensive display.

  “The weather was a leveller, and we were fortunate to attack with the wind in the first half, and it stopped them getting out as easily as they’d have liked to have done,” said Peters.

“We should have taken a few more chances in the first to make it a bit easier for ourselves in the second half.

“The question was, how bright and sharp could we be without playing last weekend, and our first half performance was good, but I still think we could have done a little bit more.

He added: “I think we would be doing them a disservice if we said it was just the conditions that were the reason why they played better in the second half. I thought they were really good value. A few times they were able to play through our lines and have some flowing attacks at our goal which we need to have a look at.

“They stuck to their guns and they’re very good at what they do. But we’ve been defensively very good for a little while now and we’re attacking a bit better.”

Dorking Wanderers continued run in this season’s FA Cup means the Magpies will be kicking their heels again this weekend. They return to league action at home to struggling Eastbourne the following Saturday.

 Saturday’s sixth straight win keeps Alan Devonshire’s side in fourth place but they’re now only two points off second placed Weston super Mare and five behind leaders Hornchurch with a game in hand. Despite not being at their best on Saturday, the difference between how they’re playing now and at the start of the season - when they failed to win their first four matches - is stark according to Peters.

“If you go back to the first four games of the season and how we’re playing now, it’s two different sides,” he said.

Liam Dulson scores goals!

3 goals in his last 4 league appearances for our number 17! pic.twitter.com/a9f0ritQU8

— Maidenhead United (@MUFCYorkRoad) October 6, 2025