The Wood were unable to make it three wins in three, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Maidenhead United.

Adrian Clifton (48) opened the scoring for Maidenhead United shortly before half time, scraping the ball over the line for the home side.

Alan Devonshire’s side then doubled their advantage in the 58th minute, with Ryan Upward poking another scrappy goal past Grant Smith.

The Wood made just one change from the win over Dover Athletic on Tuesday night, with Ricky Shakes coming in at wing-back for Kane Smith.

Maidenhead started the stronger of the two sides, with lively forward Sam Barratt rifling an early strike from distance, but it sailed over the crossbar.

Barratt then drifted around the edge of Shakes and pulled it back for Clifton, but Dave Stephens blocked for a corner.

The home side went close again shortly after, Smith failed to hold James Comley’s long range strike and Barratt snatched the rebound, but he could only fire past the post.

The early frustration was summed up when Keiran Murtagh’s 20-yard strike was blocked Shaun Jeffers. However, the forward twisted and struck himself, but Carl Pentney held.

On the counter, Clifton flew towards the byline, but he slowed to look up and Stephens thumped clear.

Bruno Andrade then curled a free kick from 25-yards narrowly above the top right corner.

The two sides had spent much of the half exchanging short spells of dominance, but it remained 0-0 as the midway point loomed.

The Wood then went close to breaking the deadlock, Andrade swept his way past two Maidenhead defenders, but curled his effort wayward.

With just two minutes of the first half remaining, the away side failed to deal with Barratt’s long throw. Smith looked to have saved two Maidenhead strikes superbly, but the second, from Clifton, crept past the stopper and over the line.

Back out for the second period and Andrade’s corner was dragged back into the box by Dean Wells, but Murtagh’s half volley was blocked. 

Maidenhead doubled their lead just before the hour mark; Harry Pritchard’s corner pinballed around the box, before Upward poked it past Smith.

Looking for a reaction, the Wood attempted to pass their way through Maidenhead and it almost worked. Andrade had met a through ball from Murtagh inside the area, but blasted his shot wide.

Shakes then drove a viscous low ball across the box, but it was lashed clear by the home side.

Pritchard broke forward, cut inside and a fizzled a strike at Smith, but it was blocked wide.

Luke Garrard’s side were handed a lifeline with just three minutes remaining, there was a scramble in the home box, and Mark Ricketts found just enough space to nod past Pentney.

However, it proved too little too late for the Wood and they were unable to get an equaliser before the referee blew the final whistle. 

The Wood: G Smith, Woodards (Thomas 82), Ricketts (C), Wells, Stephens, Shakes, Champion, Murtagh, Andrade, Jeffers (Benson 62), Turgott (Sach 67) 

Subs not used: Johnson, Turley

Maidenhead: Pentney, Clerima (Peters 64), Steer, Odametey, Massey (C), Inman, Comley, Barratt (Hyde 73), Pritchard, Clifton (Smith 76), Upward

Subs not used: Kilman, Goodman 

Goals:

The Wood: Ricketts (87’)

Maidenhead: Clifton (43’), Upward (58’)

Attendance: 1,351

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