Dulson strike rescues point but Magpies miss chance to close on play-off rivals

Photo credit: Maidenhead United

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Chesham United 1, Maidenhead United 1

Maidenhead United missed the chance to close the gap on play-off rivals on Saturday as they were deservedly held to a 1-1 draw by mid-table Chesham United at The Meadow.

 The Magpies lacked the fluency and tempo of their fine second half performance in the 3-0 win over Enfield Town the previous week as they laboured in the first half against the Generals.

Mitchell Weiss scored a fortunate goal for the hosts, turning home a wayward shot from the edge of the box in the 43rd minute.

It was a somewhat ill-deserved lead for Chesham, after a scrappy and largely dull first half from both teams, but the Generals had certainly offered more from an attacking perspective.

 The best of the early chances fell their way, with Remy Clerima deflecting Samson Esan’s left-footed shot just over the bar in the 14th minute and Jordi Van Stappershoef standing up well to make a key save from Karl Oliyide as he raced into the area from the left in the 33rd minute.

Maidenhead again improved after the interval with Ryan Peters turning to his bench for inspiration early in the half.

Sam Barratt was withdrawn in the 52nd minute for Josh Umerah and Jordon Ragguette came on for Owen Cochrane a few minutes later, giving the Magpies a better balance down the left side.

But the visitors didn’t really click until they scored in the 69th minute from the move of the match.

The ball was worked wide on the right for Asher Yearwood whose cut back reached Umerah and then Josh Popoola. He laid the ball off intelligently for Dulson on the edge of the box and he rifled the ball past Goode’s right hand and into the bottom corner.

Having come from behind in similar circumstances to beat Horsham a few weeks ago, many felt the Magpies would press on and get a winner. But, if anything, Chesham, had the better of the final 15 minutes until their captain Callum Adebiyi was sent off in the 87th minute.

There was a heart in the mouth moment for Maidenhead’s on loan Coventry defender David Mantle when he very nearly headed the ball past his own keeper in the 74th minute.

Then in the 82nd minute, Alfie Williams swung in a cross from the right that flicked off a head in a crowded area and appeared destined for the bottom corner until Van Stappershoef launched himself to paw it away at full stretch.

Chesham’s Adebiyi was dismissed in the 87th minute after a clash with Dulson in the right corner.

There didn’t appear much wrong with his initial challenge, but the linesman started frantically signalling after spotting a further altercation or a kick from Adebiyi as Dulson lay on the ground.

Maidenhead might have nicked the win in the closing minutes but probably wouldn’t have deserved to. From the resulting free kick Jayden Mitchell-Lawson headed just wide of the post with no Maidenhead player close enough to turn it home as the ball looped across the six-yard box.

Their second big chance came in injury time from the left boot of substitute Harry Pritchard.

Running onto Clerima’s cut back the former Blackpool and Barnet player miscued badly, sending his shot from the edge of the box well wide.

United had missed out on the win they came for but picked up another decent point in their battle to finish in the top seven.

They next go to Ebbsfleet United on Saturday, with both teams now pushing for a top seven finish.

Midweek results have seen the Magpies knocked back to 11th but they’re only three points behind Ebbsfleet in seventh and would go above them on goal difference with a win - that’s how tight it is in the race for the play-offs.

"It seems like every time we get an opportunity to potentially cement ourselves in the playoffs, we have an indifferent performance."

Ryan Peters discusses this afternoon's 1-1 draw at Chesham United ️ pic.twitter.com/TVGaYFjsf2

— Maidenhead United (@MUFCYorkRoad) January 24, 2026