Aldershot Town took all three points from a previously unbeaten in six Wrexham side on Saturday. The Shots’ makeshift defence, which included a full debut for ‘man of the match’ Ben Shroll and both Killian Colombie & Alfy Whittingham playing in unnatural positions, kept a clean sheet, whilst Joel Nouble continued his recent fine form, with two goals and a quite brilliant assist for Jermaine Anderson to score the Shots’ third goal. On Tuesday evening, Danny Searle’s side will make the short trip to Berkshire to take on Alan Devonshire’s ‘Magpies’, Maidenhead United.
In association with LV BET, Rob Worrall previews the game:
Shots Squad:
Lewis Kinsella, Craig Tanner and Ross McCormack are all progressing well from their long-term lay-offs, whilst both Alex Finney (hamstring) and George Fowler (knee) are doubtful. Searle & his Assistant Anwar Uddin, have some difficult (although welcome) selection choices to make, throughout their team for Tuesday night’s game. Shadrach Ogie and Kodi Lyons-Foster are available again after suspension, but replacements Colombie and Shroll both had excellent games whilst deputising and Whittingham was outstanding at right back, even venturing forward to supply the cross that led to Town’s first goal. In midfield, Toby Edser, and up front, Shots’ top scorer Mo Bettamer both had to be content with a place on the bench on Saturday and they will also be pushing for a start. Stick with the side that played so well on Saturday, or, freshen it up, with so many back-to-back matches at present?
Opposition:
Name: Maidenhead United
Founded: 1870
Nickname: The Magpies
Manager: Alan Devonshire
Stadium: Yok Road
2019/20 National League position: 22nd (21st on PPG)
Current National League position: 10th
The Gaffer:
Magpies boss Alan Devonshire is an experienced manager, now deep into his second spell at the club. He began life in football at non-league Southall before he was picked up by West Ham United. With the Hammers, he spent 14 years between 1976 and 1990. After over 350 appearances with the club he departed for the final two years of his playing career at Second Division Watford. In 1996, he took charge of Maidenhead United and had a successful reign at the club. He won promotion from the Isthmian League Division One in 2000 and won 4 Berks & Bucks Senior Cups. He also won the Isthmian Full Members Cup (1997) and made the 2000 Isthmian League Cup Final. He moved on to Hampton & Richmond in 2003 for eight years where he reached the FA Cup First Round proper, finished runners-up in the Conference South (2009) but lost in the play-offs. Previously, he won promotion from the Isthmian League Division One South & the Isthmian Premier Division (2007). Devonshire took over as Braintree manager in May 2011 as they ventured into the National League for the first time. He spent four seasons with the Iron, remarkably taking his part-time side to the Conference Play-Off semi-final, prior to re-joining Maidenhead in 2015. Two years later he steered them to the National League South title and a twelfth-place finish in their first season in the National League. Since then they have battled hard to stay in Non-League’s top tier, coming dangerously close to relegation last season, when, despite finishing in 22nd place, they survived by the slightest of margins on PPG. This season, despite a horrendous start, they then climbed from last place up to 4th and remain in the top 10 of the National League coming into tonight’s game.
Squad:
Devonshire retained 9 players from last season’s playing squad and these included, Seth Twumasi, Alan Massey, Josh Smile, Josh Kelly and Ryan Upward.
There were 12 new ‘Magpies’ at the start of this season, the most eye-catching arrival was the return of Sam Barrett for a second spell, after spending time in the EFL at Southend United. Barrett started this term at a blistering pace and is currently the club’s joint top scorer, along with Danilo Orsi-Dadomo, signed from Hampton & Richmond Borough. Both have scored 9 goals to date in all competitions. Shaun Donnellan and Manny Parry both joined from Woking, Winger Dan Sparkes (Barnet) and Nathan Blissett (Solihull Moors) are the pick of this season’s new arrivals at York Road.
Form:
After their roller-coaster start to the season, the Magpies form has settled down with 4 Wins, 3 Draws and 3 Losses across their last 10 games. They haven’t won in their last 3 games, but showed great character at Bromley on Saturday, to come back from 2-0 down to draw.
Referee:
Tuesday evening’s referee is Sukhvir (Sunny) Gill who has refereed 9 National League matches so far this season, showing 27 Yellow Cards and 3 Red Cards to date. He hasn’t refereed Shots’ this season, but took charge of a 3-0 defeat and a 4-0 win for the Magpies.
Match Coverage:
The match will be streamed and available on Maidenhead United’s Website soon and can be found closer to kick-off HERE. The cost of their stream is £10 and we recommend signing in earlier to ensure your pass works ahead of the game.
