Maidenhead United Devs create club history with county cup 'double'

Hat-trick scorer Molly Wheeler celebrates with (L to R) Poppy Whitburn, Macy Handscomb, Holly Sharp, Niki Moore, Liberty Dieppe, Chloe Matmuja, Megan Dore, Lorena Lopez-Catalan. Photo: Darren Woolley. 

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Maidenhead United Women made a piece of history in claiming a county ‘double’ with victory for their Development team in the Berks & Bucks Trophy last Sunday afternoon at Beaconsfield, writes Neil Maskell.

This followed similar success for the women’s first team in the Senior Cup Final at the same venue just seven days previously.

Against Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League outfit Burghfield – who had previously knocked out higher division opposition – United dominated from the start and scored an astonishing 14 goals.

Within 90 seconds United led when Molly McKeever – one of two Magpies to score a hat-trick on the day – charged down a clearance to score the first. Maidenhead were five up by the break. Liberty Dieppe made it two when she turned and finished neatly after Lorena Lopez-Catalan saw her shot deflcted into Dieppe’s pass.

Dieppe then assisted McKeever to score with an accurate right footed finish from the edge of the box. Ava Broke-Smith scored the first of her own treble with a shot from the right wing which looped over the busy Burghfield ‘keeper and the fifth came with a left footed shot by Dieppe from outside of the box.

There was no let up for the village side in the second half. Amber Saunders received a pass from Abi Mann to score with a left-footed cross shot. Sienna McGill’s pass into the box saw Dieppe and McKeever exchange a one-two with the latter scoring right footed for her hat-trick. Substitute Megan Brown then got into the act with a brace – the first a fine right footed effort from the edge of the box into the roof of the net, her second chasing onto a short back-pass after Holly Sharp’s long ball forward and beating the ‘keeper to the ball. The tenth and eleventh came from right and left footed shots from the edge of the area by Broke-Smith to complete her treble.

A Brown pass was dummied by captain Chloe Matmuja and Lopez-Catalan went round the corner and before the same player could complete the scoring into an empty net after a Matmuja cross was spilled the Magpies ‘skipper had assisted Nikki Moore for a far post, meaning that both graduates from MUFC Juniors – Dieppe and Moore – were on the scoresheet.

Head over to our YouTube to watch all 14 (yes fourteen) goals in the Dev’s final! https://t.co/4eLFD325NK

— Maidenhead United Women (@mufcyorkroadwfc) March 27, 2025

Manager Ryan Robinson beamed afterwards: “It’s a testament to our group and our girls, they are absolutely fantastic.”

McKeever added: “I thought the team definitely stepped up to the occasion and we all played so well individually and as a team. It was so amazing to finish the season on such a high and I was extremely happy to get a hat-trick and be awarded player of the match.”

Broke-Smith discussed her goalscoring antics and said: “When I was shooting for goal I would just pick a point furthest from the ‘keeper and aim to go over her head to slot it in the back of the net.

“The game started well from the off because all the girls gave it their all and that showed in the scoreline.

“Playing at Maidenhead this season has been my first in women’s football and the environment of the club has made it such a great season. With all the experiences that I have had, to get a County Final win topped the season off.”

Meanwhile, the First Team were defeated 2-0 at York Road in their FAWNL match against Swindon Town and will be looking to bounce back on the road at Bournemouth Sports this Sunday (2pm).