02:46PM, Thursday 05 September 2024
Photo credit: Darren Woolley
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Maidenhead United Women enjoyed home comforts as they deservedly edged out newly promoted Bournemouth Sports on Sunday for a second victory at York Road inside four days following their FAWNL Cup victory against Ashford Town on the preceding Thursday.
Visitors Ashford Town settled better under the Thursday night lights at York Road. There was an astonishing moment in the opening five minutes when Ashford hit both crossbar and post in the same goal-mouth scramble before the visitors Zuzanna Wojtaszewska struck the outside of Danni Hull’s near post with a shot from outside the area.
At the other end United began to get a foothold. Izzy Stockton shot narrowly wide after a cute through ball from the outstanding Emily Norfolk. United led inside twenty minutes when Macey-Nikiah Walters curling effort from outside the box deceived Maisie Swan in the Bridgwater goal and crept inside the far post. A lovely United move involving Ruth Topping and Simone O’Brien led to Natalie Cowell shooting wide at the near post but moments later Norfolk charged down Swan in possession, tackling the ‘keeper and being rewarded as the ball trickled over the line. United were two goals to the good after barely half an hour.
Ashford perhaps knew it wasn’t going to be their night when Alissa Down headed a corner kick against the post just minutes after that second goal and the impressive Brogan Moore tested Hull, making her first appearance of the season for United. Nicole Leys had a fine turn and shot fly narrowly over the top as the away side pushed at the end of the half, but they were rewarded in the first minute of the second period. A corner was only cleared to the Ashford right flank and a fine ball into the box was nudged home, with either Magpies defender Sarah Thompson or Moore getting the last touch.
A quick-fire two-goal burst would give United daylight after the hour; Norfolk’s clever ball over the top was controlled and finished by Cowell before Stockton latched onto a long ball from Ashlee Withers to finish delightfully into the top corner with her right foot. The visitors pulled one back through substitute Lavana Neufville and United had to keep their shape and discipline for the final ten minutes and added time as the outstanding Norfolk limped off with all five substitutes having been used.
Against Bournemouth Sports it was Maidenhead who dominated chances from the start. Walters was denied at her near post by outstanding goalkeeper Sam Chrippes within twenty seconds of kick off and minutes later a ball from the right from Walters was intelligently dummied by Stockton with O’Brien bravely denied by the onrushing ‘keeper. Captain Thompson nodded a corner against the far post as chances continued to come. United went ahead deservedly when Norfolk put a delicious ball through for Walters to finish decisively.
Walters saw a firm angled drive punched over the bar by Chrippes and Topping side-footed a clear chance straight at the ‘keeper at the end of a good move before the visitors made United pay for missed chances, equalizing against the run of play on the stroke of half time with a composed finish by Rosie Eden, a first ever FAWNL goal for Sports.
As the game wore on in temperatures recorded in the eighties the pace of the game slowed. Chrippes denied Maidenhead time and time again before former QPR player Katie Akerman won the game with barely two minutes of normal time remaining. Akerman admitted after the game that her effort which drifted over the head of the otherwise faultless Chrippes had been a cross. Maidenhead deserved their win but could use some more good fortune as they take on league leaders and title favourites, big spending AFC Bournemouth at Ringwood Town this Sunday.
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