County go in search of a third straight away win in the National League tomorrow night, as we travel to Maidenhead United looking to close the gap at the top of the table to six points.
Saturday’s goalless draw with Aldershot saw County miss the chance to climb above Hartlepool and into the top three as we remained in 4th, but did at least edge one point closer to the top of the table.
With leaders Torquay not in action tomorrow night, County know a win will further close the gap on them at the top as the National League promotion race really begins to take shape.
This game marks a special occasion for Maidenhead, as it falls on the 150th anniversary of their first ever game at York Road, and with the side pushing for a play-off spot themselves, they’ll be keen to mark the occasion with a big three points.
Our Opponents:
When we last made the journey south to York Road it marked our final National League game of the 2019/20 season, with the season curtailed early just a few days later.
Played out in slightly surreal circumstances in front of a packed stadium a stunning Liam McAlinden goal late on secured the points for County – a result that at the time left County in the play-off places and Maidenhead in the relegation zone.
Despite the final standings, points per game would have a decisive impact on both sides seasons, as we were replaced by Barnet in the final play-off place, whilst Maidenhead’s solitary game in hand on Ebbsfleet United was enough to inch them above the Kent side, and secure their place in the division by 0.002 PPG.
Buoyed by the narrowest of escapes, there has been no suggestion of any repeat struggles for Alan Devonshire’s side this time round, as despite a slow start the Magpies are currently flying in the top-half of the National League, within touching distance of a play-off place with games in hand still to play.
The Berkshire side actually sat bottom of the table after losing their first three games, conceding ten goals in the process, but a 1-0 win at Wrexham live on BT Sport kick-started a run of five straight league wins and no defeat in seven, to rocket the part-time side up to fifth in the table.
In fact, after losing those first three games, Maidenhead have lost just three of their 15 games since – although one of those defeats came in their last game, as they went down 1-0 at home to Boreham Wood.
Disruption to the season means that the Magpies have still only played 18 league games so far this campaign, with repeated postponements resulting in them dropping out of the play-offs and down to 10th, two points shy of the top 7.
A lot of the inspiration for their fine start to the season has come from their summer transfer activity, with two of their off-season recruits scoring more than half of their league goals to date.
Former Hampton and Richmond man Danilo Orsi has scored seven times so far this season, including five in his last five games, whilst Sam Barratt, who returned to York Road after a two year spell at Southend, has nine already this campaign, although he hasn’t scored since a victory at Chesterfield back in November.
Victory on Tuesday would see them move to within two points of County in the league table with two games in hand, meaning the stakes are high for both teams as we look to lay down a marker in the promotion chase.
Match Stats:
- The two sides have met just four times competitively, with County winning two and losing one. We are unbeaten in our two previous visits to York Road
- County will be looking for a seventh away win of the season in the National League – which would equal the total of away league wins we managed in the whole of last season
- Six of Alex Reid’s nine National League goals this season have been scored away from home
