By Brad Saxton | Image courtesy of Maidenhead United
Ahead of today’s Vanarama National League fixture down south, we take a look at our next opponents, Maidenhead United.
Maidenhead will be hoping to carry on their recent run of good form of late in the Vanarama National League, after their 1-1 draw at Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday evening saw them extend their run to three games unbeaten.
Two wins in their two previous games against FC Halifax Town (1-0) and Solihull Moors (2-1) have seen them pick up important wins in recent weeks, which has seen them move up the table and create a three point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
After winning two and drawing two of their opening four games in the National League this season, they then went on a terrible run which saw them go winless for eleven games, as they scored only five goals during that period.
But having recently turned around their form since the middle of October, Maidenhead head into this Saturday’s in good form having put together some good results over the past couple of weeks.
Manager: Alan Devonshire
The vastly-experienced manager re-joined Maidenhead United in 2015 for a second spell and has been in charge there for the last nine seasons.
His first spell with the club started in 1996 and lasted for a total of seven seasons, before he moved on to become manager of Hampton and Richmond Borough.
Following a four-year spell at Braintree Town, Devonshire returned to the dugout at York Road for a second spell eight years ago.
The 67-year-old has managed well over 700 games for Maidenhead, but he’s a manager who has achieved much more during his managerial career, having been in the dugout more than 1,300 times over the past four decades.
During a playing career which saw Devonshire make just under 450 appearances for West Ham United in both the First and Second Division, he also made eight caps for his country after featuring for England between 1980 and 1983.
Top Scorer: Reece Smith
The young 21-year-old attacking-midfielder has made a fine start to the season for Maidenhead United, having netted six times in eighteen appearances in the National League during 2023/24, averaging one goal in every three appearances for the club this season,
Having come through the club’s academy, he broke onto the first-team scene at York Road in 2019 and he has since become a regular for Devonshire’s side, having made over 100 appearances for the club over the last four seasons.
He’s in current form as well, having netted two of his goals this season in his last two appearances.
One to Watch: Sam Beckwith
Another youngster who has become a key player for Maidenhead United over recent seasons.
After coming through the youth set-up at Luton Town, he made a single appearance for the Hatters in an EFL Cup game in the 2021/22 campaign.
After leaving Luton, Beckwith made the move to Maidenhead in the same season and has gone on to make over 70 appearances for the club at left back over the last three years.
So far this season, he’s made 18 appearances for the club.
Head-to-Head
Last season saw the two sides go head-to-head for the first time, with the first meeting coming at York Road in August 2022 where the Minstermen ran out as 1-0 winners, thanks to Maxim Kouogun’s header.
The most recent meeting between the two sides was at the LNER Community Stadium in January earlier this year, as Maidenhead ran out as 2-1 winners. Goals from Ashley Nathaniel-George and Charlee Adams put the visitors two goals ahead in North Yorkshire, before Lenell John-Lewis scored a late consolation goal for the Minstermen.