Wealdstone v Maidenhead United - Match Preview

THE DETAILS

Wealdstone v Maidenhead United Vanarama National League Grosvenor Vale

Tuesday 20th April, 3:00pm kick-off

This game will take place behind closed doors.

HOW TO WATCH

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions enforced on outdoor spectator sport, this game will currently take place behind closed doors. You can purchase a streaming pass for the fixture by clicking HERE.

THE CONTEXT Wealdstone will be looking to atone for a heavy 7-2 defeat to league leaders Hartlepool United on the weekend against an out-of-form Maidenhead United side, although their point gained away at promotion-hunting Stockport County suggests that they may have put their barren run of poor results behind them, they are still winless in five though, with their last victory coming more than a month ago, but an impressive win nonetheless when they routed title-chasing Torquay United 4-1 at York Road. This will be the third attempt at playing this fixture after the first was postponed the day following New Year's Day due to a COVID outbreak in the Stones squad and then thawing snow causing a waterlogged pitch just a month later. Fans from both teams will be hoping it's third time lucky as a congested run-in awaits the National League season.

TEAM NEWS

Stones saw Ashley Charles returns from his two-match suspension on the weekend as well as the return of Arsenal loanee Joseph Olowu after a lengthy absence. Stuart Maynard's side were also buoyed by a goal from debutant Sonny Lo-Everton just minutes after coming onto the pitch and he looks set to make the starting eleven for Tuesday evening. Riley Harbottle has had his loan deal extended until the end of the season but is out currently with an arm injury. Danny Green picked up a knock in Saturday's defeat to league leaders Hartlepool United but could still start and defenders Nikola Tavares, George Langston and Josh Meekings remain sidelined.

FORM GUIDE Stones: Hartlepool United (H) 2-7 L (Lo-Everton, Gondoh) Boreham Wood (A) 3-1 L (Mendy)

Barnet (H) 5-1 W (Okimo, Lewis 2, Fasanmade, Mendy) Bromley (A) 2-2 D (Gondoh, Smith)

Solihull Moors (A) 3-0 L

Maidenhead United: Stockport County (A) 2-2 D (Parry, Orsi) Barnet (H) 0-0 D Eastleigh (H) 0-1 L Weymouth (A) 2-1 L (Barratt)

Altrincham (H) 0-1 L

WHAT WAS SAID Stuart Maynard: "We've got to patch a few of the lads up and get them back out there Tuesday, but it's good to bounce back with a game straight away [after a heavy defeat]. Alan Devonshire's sides are always very good at playing from back to front very well, they're competitive which we will have to match and they always have good quality players on the pitch, too."

WHO TO WATCH FOR? Danilo Orsi: After a successful 2019/20 campaign in the National League South with Hampton & Richmond Borough where the striker had 14 goals in 35 games, Orsi was signed by Magpies boss Alan Devonshire in pre-season. After spells in and out of the side at the start of the season, Orsi has really kicked on and accustomed to life a step up in leagues and comes to The Vale as an established first team player, scoring 13 goals this campaign, including one against the Stones on Boxing Day at York Road and one last time out against Stockport County.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Played - 48 Won - 14 Drawn - 9 Lost - 25

LAST FIVE MEETINGS Dec 2020 - Maidenhead United 4-0 Stones Oct 2019 - Stones 0-2 Maidenhead United Oct 2019 - Maidenhead United 1-1 Stones (Lafayette) Jul 2018 - Stones 0-0 Maidenhead United Jul 2017 - Stones 1-1 Maidenhead United (Green)

MATCH SPONSORS

We would like to thank LGM Construction who are sponsoring Saturday's National League as match sponsors, and would also like to thank ball sponsor Mick Fishman.

Preview by Chris Woods