05:30PM, Wednesday 28 August 2024
Maidenhead United Women fell to their second defeat of the season on Sunday, losing to a Bridgwater United side who claimed all three points thanks to a scrappy early goal from Keeley Banfield, writes Neil Maskell.
United started the ‘home’ game at Sandhurst on the front foot and looked dangerous in the early stages, but this was another frustrating afternoon for Ed Jackson-Norris’s side who also suffered some significant injury blows.
It’s now two defeats from two for the Magpies who sit bottom of the FA Women’s National League Division 1 South West.
Bridgwater went on to score from their first corner of the match.
The ball was swung in by captain Ella-Mae Miller and as the ball hung up in the swirling wind United could not clear their lines and Banfield steered home the loose ball just four minutes into the match.
There was a lengthy stoppage when United ‘keeper went up for an aerial challenge and came off second best, the brave American being taken to A&E at the Royal Berkshire Hospital with a shoulder injury which necessitated Izzy Stockton taking the gloves. This therefore meant that Jackson-Norris would have to do without the joint top-scorer in her usual attacking role from 2023/24 for the remainder of the game. In the second period, United also saw defender Tarran Williams limp off.
Maidenhead to their credit actually enjoyed their best spell after the first significant injury blow. They earned a series of set pieces and most of the remainder of the first half was played in the Bridgwater half. However, they largely failed to test Alex Madden in the visiting goal and their best first half chance came when Natasha Rasmussen’s effort from range had Madden back-pedalling with the ball eventually going narrowly over the top. There was however a let off shortly before the half ended when Beth Everson went through on goal but shot tamely at Stockton.
Everson had two further similar opportunities in a second period generally dominated by the visitors. The alert Stockton kept out the Bridgwater forward who was also denied by excellent last ditch defending by firstly Ashlee Withers and then Aleasha Lunn. The industrious Hollie Tappin was frustrated by Stockton at the near post and Maidenhead’s best opportunities came on the break with off-target efforts. Macey Nikiah-Walters shot across goal from a tight angle and a delightful move featuring Rasmussen and Walters saw teenage substitute Ellie Manners go close with a shot which didn’t trouble Madden.
Deep into injury time Maidenhead won a corner and the United bench urged stand-in ‘keeper Stockton forward to take up a more familiar role in the opposition penalty area. Lunn’s kick fell nicely for Stockton whose shot from close range was blocked by the red-and-black wall before match referee Natan Brown signalled the end of a frustrating afternoon for a youthful Maidenhead outfit who must remain patient with significant challenges ahead.
The Magpies are due to face Ashford Town (Middlesex) at York Road in the FA Women’s National League Cup Determining Round on Thursday night prior to what looks a key league game at home on Sunday (September 1) against newly promoted Bournemouth Sports, 2pm kick off.
Admission to this match is FREE for MUFC Gold Members, otherwise admission is at the York Road turnstile - £5 adults, £2 concessions (under 18s, Over 65s).
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