MATCH REPORT | Hemel Town 0-1 Maidenhead United

Written by Callum Humphrey

Hemel Hempstead Town suffered their first defeat of the National League South season on Tuesday night, as Maidenhead United claimed a 1-0 win at The Focus Community Arena. 

Daniel Nkrumah’s first-half volley was enough to see the Magpies to their first victory of the campaign, taking them to four points from their opening three outings. 

Lee Bircham’s side were unable to trouble Maidenhead keeper Jordi van Stappershoef for the majority of the 90 minutes, and remain on the same number after one win, one draw and one loss to start the season. 

The Tudors threatened an early goal when Devante Stanley nearly finished a free-flowing team move that started with his own barnstorming run, but his shot was well blocked by George Abbott. 

Soon after it was the Magpies who hit the front, Nkrumah volleying home their first goal of the season after the hosts had failed to clear their lines. 

The guests continued to cause the Tudors problems, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson testing Michael Johnson on a couple of occasions, but they made it to the half just one down as Jordon Ragguette’s dangerous stoppage time cross went unanswered. 

The Magpies continued to look most threatening after the break, captain Josh Coley’s cross presenting Nkrumah with a golden chance to bag his second of the evening, but Johnson was there to save. 

He continued to stand firm as the Tudors weathered some Maidenhead pressure, before Stanley chested down smartly but volleyed wide. 

The hosts pushed forward as they searched for an equaliser, but Magpies substitute Finley Welch came closest to a late goal, steering his one-on-one effort narrowly wide. 

Bircham’s boys return to action with a trip to Salisbury on Saturday afternoon.