MAIDENHEAD UNITED 2

Behzadi 16, Pacquette 64

DORCHESTER TOWN 1

Crittenden 47

NICK Crittenden's third goal in two matches was not enough to earn Dorchester a point at York Road.

But a draw is what the Dorset Magpies could have achieved if only Ryan Moss had converted an 84th minute penalty awarded for Bobby Behzadi's push on Tom Mitchell.

But for the second week running, Moss drove his penalty to the right of goal and keeper Shane Gore dived to his left to make a save.

Last week's first spot-kick was ordered to be retaken but there was no second chance for Dorchester this time and the Berkshire Magpies heeded the reprieve to finish the stronger side.

This match marked the return to action of the former Havant & Waterlooville strike partnership of Richard Pacquette and Rocky Baptiste now reunited at Maidenhead and Pacquette in particular proved to be a handful throughout for the visiting defence.

Shaun Brooks made just one change to his starting line-up with Mitchell Nicholson replacing Ronayne Marsh-Brown.

The first chance fell to the home side when Jake Smeeton failed to cut out a through ball from Ashley Smith but Pacquette pulled his shot across goal and wide of the far post.

At the other end, Wes Fogden fired over after a Crittenden cross had only been half-cleared.

Danny Clay then played a delightful through ball to Fogden whose attempt to curl the ball low into the far corner was foiled only by a smart save from Gore who dived to his right to turn the ball aside at full stretch.

As play swung back in Maidenhead's favour, a dangerous cross from Smith was well cut out by Patrece Liburd. And only a well-timed challenge from Mitchell denied Baptiste a shooting chance on the quarter hour.

But when the opener came, Dorchester were less than impressive in defence as keeper Gareth Stewart miskicked the ball losing possession in the process to Baptiste who found strike partner Pacquette but he seemed to miscue his shot only for the ball to roll conveniently to Behzadi who made no mistake from 12 yards.

Maidenhead looked dangerous going forward - Pacquette sent two efforts over the bar while Stewart saved an angled drive from full-back Tyron Smith at his near post.

Then Pacquette sent another low drive whistling past the far post.

But it was Dorchester who went closest to scoring the next goal when Mitchell unleashed a firm 30-yard shot which again sent Gore diving to his right to push the ball away.

Shortly after, Fogden sent a shot wide. Disaster nearly struck for Dorchester in the 40th minute when Mark Jermyn conceded possession to Pacquette but, on this occasion, the home forward made a hash of his attempted shot.

On the stroke of half-time only a goal-line clearance from Clay kept out a bullet header from Pacquette who had met a right-wing corner from Dale Binns.

Dorchester responded well to their half-time team-talk and within two minutes of the restart were back on level terms. Smeeton's free-kick was punched out by Gore under pressure from Liburd but only as far as Crittenden who rolled a shot across goal and no defender could prevent the ball from bobbling its way into the far corner.

Maidenhead could have restored their lead in the 51st minute but Stewart atoned for his earlier error with a smart save to keep out Pacquette's header from a Binns free-kick.

Dorchester were gaining confidence at this stage of the game and so it was a somewhat against the run of play that the Berkshire Magpies regained the lead.

And it was the two former Hawks who combined to create and execute what proved to be the winning goal with Baptiste's pinpoint through ball enabling Pacquette to run on and plant the ball into the bottom far corner.

Baptiste nearly extended the lead with a hopeful low shot which Stewart dropped behind him as he stooped to gather, but fortunately for the visitors the shot lacked power and Stewart was able to turn and claim the ball at the second attempt.

Moss looked to have set Jamie Mudge in the clear but the offside flag denied Dorchester's substitute a shooting chance.

Maidenhead were back in the driving seat and Pacquette sent another effort over the bar.

Mudge curled a weak effort straight at Gore but a push on Mitchell by Behzadi handed the away side a lifeline which Moss failed to grab.

And it was Maidenhead who increasingly looked the most likely to add to their tally especially following the introduction of impressive substitute Jermaine Hinds whose first contribution was to latch on to a Pacquette centre and force a good save from Stewart.

Hinds then won the ball off Mitchell and unleashed a superb effort which Stewart did well to dive to his right and push aside.

Then, following a terrific run and cross by Hinds, Pacquette nodded the ball back for substitute Mustafa Tyriaki who drove his shot just wide.

The final chance fell to Pacquette who was again denied by the busy Stewart.