Maidenhead United ride the Blue Wave in style with 1-0 over Kuwait

Maidenhead United continued their fine pre-season form with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Kuwait National side on a warm evening at York Road.

New signing Danny Whitehall scored the only goal of the contest, as he stepped up to send Sulaiman Abdulghafoor the wrong way from the penalty spot. The Magpies looked composed on and off the ball throughout the game to pick up their third victory of pre-season.

A tightly balanced first half saw the Magpies deal with their opponents passing play well, pressing high and often as they looked to win to make life difficult for the side ranked 156th in the FIFA world rankings.  

Despite their hard work, it was Kuwait who created the first real chance of the game after a swift counter attack saw Faizal Alazemi glance a dangerous cross wide of the goal, when really, he should have scored.

That was a wakeup call for the Maidenhead back-line which sported a debut for summer signing Joseph Ellul alongside captain Alan Massey.

That was to be the only real chance the visitors created in the opening 45 minutes as Whitehall tested the gloves of Abdulghafoor in the Kuwaiti net with a finely struck free-kick.

The centre-forward was at the heart of all the good work the Magpies were doing and some solid centre forward play saw him get free on the right-hand side and he had the peace of mind to square the ball to the energetic Josh Smile, but again Abdulghafoor was equal too it, diving down low to his left to keep it out.

But there was nothing the Kuwaiti ‘keeper could do about the only goal of the game as Whitehall converted calmly from the spot after Josh Kelly was brought down - his dancing feet too much for the Kuwait defenders to handle.

The Magpies continued to push, not letting Kuwait settle on the ball as the sides went into the break.

The hosts started the second half as they finished the first, pressing the Kuwait ball players although captain Bader Almotawaa continued to pull the strings in the visitor’s midfield. And it was a midfield that began to see more of the ball as the half went on – Ahmad Aldhafiri raced onto a perfectly timed ball through, but his left-footed shot was well parried from the Magpies’ trialist ‘keeper.

In truth, the shot-stopper did not have too much to do in the match, but stayed alert throughout, commanding his area and making fine saves to keep Kuwait at bay.

A host of changes from both teams freshened up the game after the hour mark and it was Trialist E that shone on the right hand-side. The number 16 getting right into the action fizzing a shot at the Kuwaiti ‘keeper.

The Magpies continued to cope with Kuwait’s style of play, pressing hard and fast anytime the ball was played forward, and the Blue Wave struggled to adapt their game to the physical nature of their National League opponents.

The game slowly ebbed away and there was just time for one late lung-busting run from the impressive number 16, who jinked through three tackles down the right wing before his cross was well marshalled by the Kuwait defence.

That was to be the last real piece of action as Maidenhead stood firm to keep their pre-season preparations heading in the right direction.

Lineup: Maidenhead United:

Trialist A, Twumasi, Massey, Ellul (Trialist 73’), Steer (Trialist D 53’), Trialist B (Comley 58’), Smile (Landers 73’), Upward (Keetch 73’), Fenelon (Trialist C 22’), Whitehall (Trialist E65’), Kelly (Sheckleford 65’).

Kuwait:

Abdulghafoor (Kankone 70’), Alsanea (Alreahidi 45’), Aldhafiri (Alfadhel 45’), Hajiah (Alanezi 45’), Alhebaiter (Alsulaiman 45’), Alazemi, Alharbi, Abujabarah (M.Aldhafiri 73’), Alshereedah , Almotawaa, Alnassar