MAIDENHEAD United kick-started their National League campaign with a brace of victories during the Bank Holiday weekend.

Having failed to pick up a win in their opening five games, the Magpies finally ended their poor run by overcoming Maidstone United 3-2 at York Road on Saturday before downing Braintree Town 2-0 on Monday.

Alan Devonshire’s (pictured right) men got their season up and running with a dramatic win against Maidstone in front of the BT Sport cameras, having made the perfect start when Ryan Upward – making his first home league start of the campaign – nodded home Max Worsfold’s left-wing cross inside 90 seconds.

There were chances at either end throughout the remainder of the first half, but Maidstone levelled with seconds of added time remaining when Blair Turgott hammered home.

It was the visitors who edged ahead 10 minutes into the second half, Harold Odametey penalised for hand ball before Turgott put his side in front from the spot.

Maids nearly equalised through a Josh Kelly header and a James Mulley strike, but they did level matters in the 77th minute when Adrian Clifton’s superb individual effort made it 2-2.

A frantic last 10 minutes ensued, but it was the Magpies who grabbed a last-gasp winner when Rene Steer’s drilled cross bounced off Will De Havilland and ended up in the net.

Maidenhead backed up their first victory of the season two days later with a hard-fought win at Braintree.

The hosts could have taken the lead through Irnti Rapai, but his effort deflected wide and Lyle Della-Verde then failed to hit the target with two good chances.

However, the Magpies gradually got on top and Kelly missed a gilt-edged chance when putting a Clifton cut-back over the bar from close range.

Maidenhead did take the lead five minutes later, though, when Clifton collected a dinked pass from Herson Alves and half-volleyed into the bottom corner.

Remy Clerima could have doubled the advantage but headed an Alves corner over the bar, yet the Magpies did go into the break with a 2-0 lead as Ayo Obileye climbed highest to arc a looping header over the despairing full-length dive of Ben Killip into the corner of the net on the stroke of half time.

Maidenhead’s second-half display failed to hit the free-flowing heights of the opening 45 minutes, though they did have further chances to add a gloss to the scoreline.

At the other end, Henry Ochieng could have given his side a lifeline but instead fired over and Christie Pattison also blazed wide.

The final chance went to Maidenhead substitute Nana Owusu, but after he hit the side-netting, the Magpies defended well to pick up a first clean sheet of the campaign.

Maidenhead United host Bromley tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm), before Eastleigh FC visit York Road next Tuesday (7.45pm).