MATCH REPORT | MAIDENHEAD UNITED 3-1 BARNET FC | NATIONAL LEAGUE

The Bees fell to defeat on the road to the hands of Maidenhead United at York Road.

The game got off to a lighting start with the Bees feeling they could have been two goals up in the first four minutes.

The first chance fell to Stead after Ben Coker’s cross to the back post met the Barnet number ten, but his volley went inches wide of the post.

Stead also had the second chance when the ball was played to him just inside the box before he turned at goal and shooting with power, his shot was well saved by Craig Ross.

Against the run of the play on the 15-minute mark it was the hosts who took the lead when Reece Smith received the ball in a promising position before rounding the ball past Nick Hayes and finding the back of the net.

The Bees came back fighting and nearly found the equaliser five minutes later when Zak Brunt tried his luck from the edge of the box, but he rolled his effort just wide of the left-hand post.

With five minutes left in the half Maidenhead made it two when a teasing cross from the right-hand side met Tristan Abrahams in the box who tapped the ball into the net.

In the dying seconds of the first half, Stead got his goal when a free kick was swung towards the forward who headed at goal before finding the net to bring the Bees right back into the contest.

Half Time 2-1.

Glover and Barnet came out looking strong in the opening stages of the second half, the midfielder with two efforts at goal, one saved by Ross and the other well blocked by Cochrane.

Maidenhead got their third against the run of play again when Reece Smith popped up with an effort from inside the box which found the bottom corner.

With 15 minutes to go Barnet were looking to claw one back again when Brunt went for goal from range, but his shot was blocked.

Reece Smith was back causing problems again twisting and turning in the box before laying the ball off to Casey Petit on the edge of the box but his effort rolled wide of the post.

Harry Chapman and Jermaine Francis had the last two efforts at goal in this contest, both weren’t able to trouble Craig Ross in the Maidenhead goal.

Maidenhead held on in the final ten minutes for a famous three points, their first win of the season.

Full Time 3-1.

Lineup: Hayes, Coker (Hall-Johnson 60’), Stead, Kanu (Chapman 60’), Glover, Hartigan, Shelton (Nartey 60’), Tavares, Kenlock (Okimo 60’), Kizzi.

Goals: Stead (45 + 1)