Maidenhead United snatched defeat from the jaws of a score draw at home to King’s Lynn Town at the weekend.
Having seemingly snatched a point with a late penalty from striker Sam Barratt in the 90th minute, Brett McGavin snatched a winner for the visitors two minutes later.
That leaves them in 18th place having not won a match since picking up six points from their first two National League fixtures.
Since the 2-0 home win over Dover Athletic on August 28, five defeats and a draw – the latter being a decent point at home to table-topping Grimsby Town a couple of weeks ago – have seen Maidenhead slump.
Boss Alan Devonshire could not hide his disappointment, he told the Maidenhead Advertiser: “It’s just been so poor. We had a nice shape about us and all that in the first half.
“We’ve come in at half-time and I’ve told the boys to carry on doing the same things, but then within five minutes (of the restart) we’re 2-1 down and chasing the game.
“We’ve managed to get back to 2-2 in the 90th minute so I’d have obviously taken a point at the stage like in our last game (the 1-1 draw at home to Grimsby), but we have defended so badly.
“Manny (Parry, the defender who appeared as a substitute for the second half) has got a chance to head the ball clear, it comes off the side of his head and goes out for a throw in.
“They then score from that – it’s gutting).”
FROM THE MANAGER
Speaking after the defeat at home to King’s Lynn Town at the weekend, boss Alan Devonshire was asked if he had any positives from his side’s performance.
“No, not really. I don’t think the front three (Josh Kelly, Nathan Blissett and Sam Barratt) played very well.
“I thought Kane (Ferdinand) did okay but I’m just so disappointed all round after being so comfortable at 1-0 when we didn’t look in trouble.
“We have put ourselves under heavy pressure. There will be changes to the team and I will mix things up until it’s right.
“It down is down to me to fix the problem, I know the fan’s aren’t happy and it’s fair enough because I’m not happy either.”
TEAM NEWS
Former Glover Shaun Donnellan‘s return after a ten-month lay off with a hamstring injury should have boosted Maidenhead.
The 24-year-old, who played 25 times during a year at Huish Park between January 2018 and 2019, underwent a hamstring operation and put in a man of the match performance in the 1-1 draw at Grimsby Town ten days ago.
He was even involved in the equaliser scored by Kane Ferdinand against Grimsby and should be in the side for the return to Huish Park this week.
Defender Will de Havilland went off with injury against King’s Lynn last weekend and was replaced by Manny Parry, and goalkeeper Rhys Lovett also took a heavy hit when King’s Lynn went 2-1 ahead.
Former Torquay United striker Nathan Blissett came off the bench to pair with Josh Kelly and Emile Acquah in a three-man forward line.
A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS
Shaun Donnellan‘s return after ten months on the sidelines following a hamstring operation makes him the only playing connection in either line-up.
The 24-year-old, had a spell at Huish Park in the 2018-19 season, has started the past two matches and will be expected to start.
Seth Nana-Twumasi, who turned out for the Stones against Yeovil last season, departed York Road in the summer to join Dover Athletic.
Striker Ryan Bird, who scored eight times for Yeovil in the 2015-16, had a less prolific season at Maidenhead getting just one goal in the 2018-19 campaign.
Other connections are among former loanees including midfielders Reece Cole and Rohan Ince and defender Gabriel Osho, who have all spent time at both clubs.