Boss Ed 'emotionally exhausted' after Magpies Women secure league survival

Magpies manager Ed Jackson-Sankey described himself as “emotionally exhausted” after his Maidenhead United Women secured FA Women’s National League survival last Sunday afternoon with a game left to play.

The 2-0 win against Selsey completed a remarkable turnaround for a side who had recorded just three points from their opening nine league games and sat joint bottom of the division in January.

Since then the Magpies form has been such that only the division’s top two sides – Exeter City and Cardiff City - have conceded fewer goals over the same period of matches and clean sheet number five of the season in the league was secured as United recorded their first victory at York Road since December 2021.

Looking to redress the balance from the Magpies 2-1 victory on the South Coast in February, Selsey made a bright start before United relaxed into the game and dominated the first half. The lively Eva-Leanne Thomas was sent through on goal and rounded Nicole Robinson between the sticks for Selsey but her attempts to back heel the ball into the danger zone were snuffed out by the visitors defence. Aleasha Lunn saw a corner cleared off the line before the hosts took the lead before the quarter-hour mark.

A foul on the edge of the box gave Natalie Cowell a sight of goal and the Magpies top-scorer despatched the free-kick low into the corner, beyond Robinson who was unsighted by an intelligent run by Imogen Fisher. United continued to impress and player-of-the-match Vicky Carvill linked up with Lunn to set up a dangerous opening before the second goal of the game arrived just before the half hour. This time a free-kick awarded fully twenty-five yards from goal saw defender Sarah Thompson’s thunderbolt come back off the cross bar for Fisher to bundle home what proved to be the final goal of the game.

The visitors to their credit tried to force their way back into the contest as Gemma Harvey denied Selsey ‘skipper Megan Fox before Rhiannon Hambleton was crowded out in a dangerous situation at the near post by United’s well-functioning defence. Selsey dominated much of the second period but United stood firm and had the best opportunities as Robinson dropped the ball at the feet of Cowell who screwed wide after the away side failed to clear a free-kick before teenage substitute and MUFC Academy player Amelie Mayani hit the crossbar with a splendid effort from range. At the other end, Fox’s volley was cleared off the line by Kajal Malhotra with Harvey saving the follow up shot and the Magpies ‘keeper had to be at her best to keep out Skye Bacon.

United return to Burnham FC – where they have won both league games played at The 1878 Stadium this season – on Sunday to complete their league season against already-relegated Larkhall Athletic, knowing that another victory would ensure a record FAWNL points tally for the club. Admission at The 1878 Stadium for this 2pm kick off will be £5 for adults, £3 concessions, £1 under 16s and FREE for Maidenhead United Season Ticket holders.