Experienced Moneyfields claim comfortable win over Maidenhead United's Women

Photo credit: Darren Woolley

--

Maidenhead United Women fell to defeat in their first game of the season at a talented Moneyfields side who made sure of a comfortable winning margin in the dying stages on the FA Women’s National League game at the Hampshire club’s John Jenkins Stadium.

Magpies manager Ed Jackson-Norris had tipped the Moneys – rumoured to have big-budget backing – to challenge for promotion prior to the season and the experienced home side controlled the match against a United team with an average age of 20 and who used eight teenagers in their matchday XVI.

Wily older heads Shannon Albuerry – on debut – and Charley Wilson-Wilton both scored braces for the hosts. United made a nervous start with Moneys firing a half chance wide of the target after barely 30 seconds. Thereafter – whilst Moneyfields dominated possession and territory – United held the home side largely at bay for the first twenty-five minutes. In fact, the closest either side came to scoring until the first goal came along was when Natasha Rasmussen fired an effort from range which was skilfully tipped onto the crossbar by Georgia Jenkins in the home goal.

Albuery had already served notice of her intentions when denied at the near post by Magpies ‘keeper Kenny Clarke – voted ‘opposition player of the match’ by the home side – before United fell behind to a goal that was perhaps avoidable. The visitors gave away possession cheaply in their own half and within moments a cross from the right was half-volleyed home by former West Ham player Albuery. And within minutes the lead was doubled when a beautifully-worked move down the Moneyfields right was finished with a half-volley by Wilson-Wilton.

Into the second period, Wilton-Wilson had the ball in the net from an offside position after Clarke had pulled off anther impressive stop whilst Macey-Nikiah Walters had a free-kick from range comfortably dealt with by Money’s custodian Jenkins. Jackson-Norris used all of his five substitutes as the visitors remained largely on the back-foot by resilient and a tiring team conceded twice in the final ten minutes. Firstly, Wilton-Wilson celebrated with glee as she met a cross with a firm header that gave Clarke no chance and deep in time added on Albuery fiercely finished a chance for her second.

Whilst no-one would doubt that Moneyfields deserved their win, philosophical Ed said after the game that he was very satisfied with 35 minutes of his sides second half performance before his squad’s resilience rather drained from them in the very closing stages.

United are due to face Bridgwater at ‘home’ at Sandhurst Town FC on Sunday 25th August and the next action at York Road is against Ashford Town (Middlesex) in the FAWNL Cup on Thursday 29th August. Admission is FREE for MUFC Gold Members, otherwise adults will pay £5 admission with concessions (over 65/under 18s) available at £2.