8 (E I G H T)

In the Pond House on Saturday evening - ahead of a visit to a nearby curry house to celebrate my birthday with family and friends - and someone at the bar mentioned that Maidenhead United had lost 8-0. Without checking, I knew the scoreline might be correct, but it wouldn't have been the Magpies on the end of such a battering. Not against Truro City, who had finally gone into Administration earlier in the week and deducted ten points.

Some thoughts:

1. I've read conflicting reports regarding what extent Truro's financial problems affected their team selection. Regardless, first-choice keeper Tim Sandercombe definitely played. He was instrumental in the Magpies' 2-1 win in Cornwall last September, throwing in one - arguably both - of our goals. I note he also gave away a penalty at York Road on Saturday. The new Ryan Northmore? I doubt Truro's Youth team keeper can be much worse.
2. It became clear during our visit last year that there was some disquiet (to put it mildly) among the home support re then-Chairman Kevin Heaney. You didn't need to be a genius to surmise that - like Colne Dynamoes, Newbury Town and others - it would end in tears.
3. Paul Semakula and Reece Tison-Lascaris (the latter with a hat trick) among the Maidenhead goals - remarkably, all bar one of them coming in the second half! Semakula seems to have a welcome knack for scoring from midfield, while RTL stood out in several games I saw last season. RTL the best of a talented crop of York Road youngsters?
4. One report I've seen lists the attendance as 374. Most - including the national Sunday papers - state 274, however. I doubt many will have travelled from Cornwall, but the latter would still be a rather disappointing figure.
5. I recall Maidenhead conceding eight before, at Bognor Regis Town (more on them later) in November 2005, but never scoring eight. Apparently, it is our biggest win since Bishop's Stortford were hit for 9 (N I N E) in April 1971, with future Hall of Famer Mick Chatterton bagging five.
6. United now up to third in the table, sandwiched between fellow non-league giants Dorchester Town and Boreham Wood (#conferencesouthgettingstrongermyarse). Talk on Tw@tter about 'dizzy new heights', but we topped the table early on during the 2008/09 season. It was around this time that Mark Steward imposed upon a MUSA AGM with a 'sponsor-a-seat' proposal. Expect this master plan to be regurgitated if our excellent form continues (#saynotoseatsonthebellend).
7. There were other eye-catching results in the division on Saturday, e.g. Dover's sub-standard home form continuing with a 1-0 defeat against HAYU and strongly-fancied pre-season favourites Eastleigh getting thumped 4-0 at Billericay. They languish in 9th and 16th place, respectively. There is no doubt in my mind that Drax would have both of these clubs promoted, probably at a canter. Unfortunately for them, multiple contract extensions mean he's now tied to the York Road dugout until 2031 ... or thereabouts.
8. However, this campaign is still in its infancy. Last season we were also doing reasonably well until our FA Cup run distracted us from the bread and butter of the league. Talking of the FA Cup, the draw for the 2nd Qualifying Round was this lunchtime; Bognor Regis Town at home. Massive yawn. Still, I suppose another 8-0 win would finally avenge the aforementioned 8-1 defeat in 2005. I might spend some of my birthday money, on a cheeky wager, just in case ...