Dream start for Sam Barratt and Maidenhead United on National League debut

Sam Barratt's Maidenhead United shirt. Photo: Sam Barratt.
Sam Barratt's Maidenhead United shirt. Photo: Sam Barratt.

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It couldn’t have been scripted better. Maidenhead United’s start to life in the Vanarama National League Premier Division was a positive one after an 88th minute equaliser courtesy of the head of Sam Barratt.

The former Woodley United and Bracknell Town winger was on hand as the Magpies came from 1-0 down at Maidstone United to take a share of the points from their first ever Premier Division match.

Maidstone had taken the lead on 51 minutes with the Maidenhead Advertiser’s Daniel Darlington reporting: “For much of the 90 minutes this looked like being an early illustration of just how tough life in the National League will be for the Magpies, after Joe Piggot had curled the hosts into a 51st minute lead from a free-kick. ”

Related: “I think it’s a big advantage going into a higher league with no expectations so we can play with freedom and pressure free” – Sam Barratt

Barratt though, a 79th minute substitute for Harry Pritchard got the equaliser with two minutes of normal time remaining – heading home from Dave Tarpey’s corner.

It’s incredibly hard to make out in this video – especially as the camera follows the wrong player in celebrating – but here’s a quick clip of the goal.

There’s a bit more reaction via the National League website here:

And you can listen to Sam talking about the goal to BBC Radio Berkshire here:

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