Maidenhead United beat Newport Pagnell Town to lift Berks & Bucks Cup for the first time

Maidenhead United lift the Berks & Bucks Cup. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United 3, Newport Pagnell Town 1

Maidenhead United Women are the Berkshire and Buckinghamshire County Champions for the very first time after a dominant 3-1 win over Newport Pagnell Town in Sunday’s final at Holloways Park.

United had reached the final four times in their history but had never taken the cup home with them to York Road, something they proudly achieved in the spring sunshine yesterday (Sunday).

It also means Ed Jackson-Norris’s side have lifted silverware for a second successive season after last season’s success over Fulham in the Combined Counties League Cup final.

They achieved it in conclusive fashion as well, going 2-0 up before half-time thanks to two goals in the space of five minutes from striker Natalie Cowell.

They may have had more goals before the referee blew the whistle for half-time, and there was a moment of panic and concern when Newport Pagnell Town cut the deficit to one goal from a direct free kick minutes into the second half.

But Maidenhead simply played with the same authoritative control they’d display all game, and they wrapped up the victory through substitute Macey-Nikiah Walters in the 74th minute.

What a team - What a club

Another successful cup campaign and so pleased to of done it with this group of people@BerksandBucksFA
County Cup Champs @mufcyorkroadwfc ⚫️⚪️@DarrenWoolley2 pic.twitter.com/zcp4ERyi2U

— Max Scott (@maxscott01) March 16, 2025

Magpies’ keeper Kenny Clarke was forced into a good late save to maintain their two-goal buffer, but the team saw the game out comfortably to get their hands on yet more silverware.

United came into the final off the back of a morale-boosting win in the league over Bristol Rovers at York Road the previous Sunday, and they’d been in excellent form in this competition. The dominant team in this season’s county cup, they were deserving winners, having swept aside Milton United 13-1, Beaconsfield Town 5-0 and former WSL side Reading FC Women 3-0 at Slough Town’s Arbour Park just a few weeks ago.

Champions of Berkshire & Buckinghamshire pic.twitter.com/rxgs3E9IVA

— Maidenhead United Women (@mufcyorkroadwfc) March 16, 2025

Maidenhead made a bright opening to the game and with a bit more luck, might have scored from one of several dangerous balls and crosses they put into the box in the first 10 minutes.

They grasped the lead in the 15th minute when Mia Parker looked to fire her side ahead, Newport Pagnell managed to snuff out her chance, but the ball fell kindly for Cowell to turn home the rebound.

Five minutes later and the Magpies were two goals to the good when Emily McMaster won the ball back and passed it forward for Cowell roll home after an error from the Newport Pagnell keeper.

Parker could have scored a third just a few minutes later but was thwarted by the Newport keeper, who made amends for her earlier error. The Magpies were forced into a couple of enforced substitutions, with Isacc Gregory and Jazz King coming off for Simone O’Brien and Katie Akerman, but they failed to let those setbacks disrupt them and Akerman came close to scoring just five minutes after coming on, her shot flying a whisker past the post.

With rolling substitutions in place for the game, Maidenhead made three more changes at the break as Walters, Raissa Jauad-Taborda and Aaliyah Charles came on for Izzy Stockton, Parker and two goal scorer Cowell.

But Newport Pagnell gave themselves a foothold in the game with a goal out of the blue from a free kick in the 48th minute.

United continued to boss the final though, and Akerman was unfortunate to shoot wide in the area after great wing play from O’Brien.

Akerman then struck the crossbar from a free kick in the 63rd minute, but the goal their dominance deserved duly arrived in the 74th minute when Walters made the most of a fantastic piece of play from Jauad-Taborda. The two substitutes combining well and Walters firing home to restore the two goal advantage.

O’Brien forced the Newport Pagnell keeper into a fingertip save and Charles was also denied in the closing stages secured an impressive victory.

United now have a week to recover before hosting Swindon Town Women at York Road on Sunday (March 23). They’ll also visit Bournemouth Sports and Keynsham Town before finishing the season with a home game against Worthing on Sunday, April 27.