Maidenhead United 2 Staines Town 3

Maidenhead had done well to boost the attendance by combining the match into a family fun day, complete with bouncy castle, face-painting, and a show by James Hooke, an X-Factor finalist.

Respective managers Steve Cordery and Johnson ‘Drax’ Hippolyte are old friends, but it was the Staines boss who was experiencing the pre-match headaches, for not only was Ifura serving his one-match ban for the red-card he received on his birthday, but Leroy Griffiths was a late drop-out in the warm-up, having passed a pre-match fitness test, and James King was slotted into the line-up.

Richard Orlu stepped in for Ifura, André Scarlett returned for Michael Kamara, and with Risbridger also nursing an injury he was replaced by Scott Taylor. The other change saw Harris move to the bench, to be replaced by one of the two players who signed only the previous day – Jacob Walcott.

The young midfielder had impressed against Staines in a pre-season game for Reading, and joins on a month’s loan from the professional outfit – and is the cousin of England star Theo.

The other new name was that of striker Kayan Kalipha, gaining a place on the bench after several impressive runs in the Reserves.

The pitch was in very good condition, the weather warm and bright, and Staines began by playing up the slope towards York Road.

The visitors made a poor start, however, and Maidenhead took the lead after only four minutes and 20 seconds of play, when a Magpies free-kick was cleared back to Ashley Nicholls, who rammed the rebound back past the unsighted Louis Wells, formerly of Maidenhead.

Ninety seconds later, Ashley Smith netted again, but fortunately for Swans he was offside.

It was almost 20 minutes before Staines created a worthwhile attack, as they broke down another United raid for Scarlett to race down the left wing and pull the ball back towards Scott Taylor, who twisted to hook a shot just wide.

The home side continued to press through Nicholls, St Aimie, and Brown, whilst Staines had their skipper Gordon booked for a foul 10 minutes before the break.

Staines made a somewhat improved start to the second half, and Darty Brown tested Maidenhead keeper Williams after a corner, but it was still a far from fluent display by the visitors.

Warren Harris was brought on after an hour for King, who seemed to have picked up an early knock, and within seconds Harris curled a good ball through for Walcott to run onto, but he was the victim of a questionable offside flag as he shaped to shoot.

This disappointment was to be compounded, as Maidenhead immediately attacked, Gordon was penalised for a challenge on Nicholls, and Kieron St. Aimie drove home the 62nd minute penalty.

“Can we play you every week” taunted the Maidenhead supporters behind the goal, and there was no disguising the fact that they were worthy of their 2-0 lead, which could have increased again 2 minutes later, but for good save from Wells after a corner was laid back for Sam Collins to shoot from just inside the box.

Whether it was Maidenhead who got complacent, or whether Staines were inspired by the introduction of Marc Charles-Smith on 68 minutes, but just two minutes later the visitors pulled a goal back, and changed the whole complexion of the afternoon.

A neat midfield move involving Charles-Smith, Scarlett and Taylor ended with Chaaban threading the ball through to Warren Harris, who deceived Steve Williams, shooting between his legs to make it 2-1 and score his first goal for Staines.

Maidenhead took off the dangerous St Aimie, presumably to ensure they held on to what they had, but Staines had grabbed the game by the neck and were now seeking an unlikely equaliser.

Orlu headed just wide after René Steer delivered a free kick to the far post, and on 73 minutes Harris headed just over following a probing Chaaban cross.

With 12 minutes to go, Kalipha was brought on for his début, but next blood almost went to Maidenhead, as Wells did well to save with his legs from a low Anderson shot.

In the 83rd, Scarlett received from a Simon Jackson throw and shepherded the ball across the box before Kalipha squared it just inches out of Charles-Smith’s reach, and Scarlett – backing up – could only find the side-netting from a tight angle.

Maidenhead made a last minute change which seemed to have eaten up enough time to secure their victory, but at the exact moment that the 90th minute expired, Staines grabbed an equaliser, when Steer played a long ball forward from the back, and Richard Orlu got his head to it to take it beyond a defender, and then realised it was still within range of his boot, and he deftly toes the ball up and over Williams and into the top corner.

Staines now had their tails up, and after Jackson had prevented a left-wing breakaway, Chaaban saw a shot diverted for a corner, from which Steer found Harris, whose audacious chip was cleared off the line.

Still reeling, Maidenhead conceded another corner from a Chaaban shot, Harris whipped it in, and Danny Gordon grabbed only the 3rd goal in his 291 games for Staines, to secure a dramatic 93rd minute winner.

The home fans were left feeling as deflated as the dismantled bouncy castle ... but at least they had James Hooke to look forward to, whilst Staines moved up 4 places to 12th in the table.

Staines: Wells; Jackson, Steer, Gordon ©, Orlu, Taylor (Kalipha 78), Scarlett, Darty Brown, Walcott (Charles-Smith 68), Chaaban, King (Harris 60); unused Kamara, Courtnage (gk).

Maidenhead: Williams, Behzadi, Collins, Nicholls, Nisbet ©, Fagan, Smith (Sackey 89), Quamina, Knight, St Aimie (Anderson 70), Daniel Brown; unused Bradshaw, Powell, Munday.

Ref: T Wood (Quedgeley, Glos); ARs K Bailey (Studley Gr, H Wycombe) & AR Stevens (Hemel Hempstead).

Att 515.