"As for Maidenhead, the conga (which was amusing) aside, quite a strange bunch really – some the oddest chants I've ever heard at a football match" ~ localboy86, Amber Planet forum, 26th April 2015

Friday 29 November 2019

Away Day (sort of) Diary: Dover Athletic 3-4 Maidenhead United (26/11/19)


Didn't for one moment expect to escape traffic delays of some kind on the M25 but, equally, I also didn't expect to be celebrating - with Macleod (M) and Willie T - Maidenhead United goals whilst listening to BBC Radio Kent, in the car, on the M20! We'd left home at 5pm and, after a convoluted journey lasting nearly three and a half hours, walked through the Crabble turnstiles just as the half-time whistle sounded … with the Magpies having come back from 1-0 and 2-1 down to lead 3-2 at the break!

Only 15 or so away fans (later supplemented, behind the goal, by the suspended Alan Massey and Danny Whitehall), all of whom - bar Macleod (M), busy putting up the flags - were in raptures as Malta's Hackney's Joe Ellul (!) finished with aplomb to give those wearing orange 'fluorescent red' shirts a two-goal cushion

Very soft penalty, awarded by the vertically and intellectually challenged Referee (Lloyd Wood), on the say-so of his Assistant - Nb. no second yellow, at this point, for Ellul - allowed Dover the opportunity to level the scores (after Wayne Rooney John Rooney Paul Rooney had earlier halved the deficit); CHRIS DUNN TO THE RESCUE, though, with his second penalty save in three games!

Even though Ellul was harshly sent off (his second red card, for two cautions, in as many matches), after a wayward pass from substitute Ibra Sekajja, the Magpies navigated the remaining added time - five minutes, inexplicably - with relative ease: only one heart-in-mouth moment, when there looked to be more of a push in the box than the one that'd previously resulted in a spot-kick!

Rude not to toast being on the right side of a seven-goal thriller - especially as we'd only just left the car! - and so the three of us enjoyed a round of drinks, in the rather clinical clubhouse, before embarking on our return journey … which, thanks to road closures (incl. the M4) and an unavoidable petrol stop in Windsor, lasted until 1am and took our total drive time close to six hours! Worth it, though, for three valuable points #midweekawaydayfortheages

(BBC report; match highlights)

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