Harper scores after 42 seconds as Maidenhead United Women extend unbeaten run

Megan Harper and Izzy Stockton. Photo: MUFC

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Maidenhead United 2, Bournemouth Sports 1

Maidenhead United Women scored after only 42 seconds as they dominated Sunday’s clash with Bournemouth Sports at York Road to stretch their unbeaten run inside 90 minutes to eight matches.

The Magpies have been in excellent form of late to lift themselves away from the lower reaches of the FA Women’s National League Division 1 South West table and consolidate themselves in mid-table.

This was their third win in the league during that eight-game stretch, and the home side took control of this match in the opening stages.

Sports didn’t have a touch of the ball before their keeper Jess Vallis retrieved it from the back of the net after Megan Harper had flicked home Simone O’Brien’s left-wing cross.

In total 42 seconds had passed since kick-off and nine players had completed 13 unopposed passes before the hosts took the lead, and they didn’t look back from there.

4️⃣2️⃣ seconds after kick off
1️⃣3️⃣ passes between 9️⃣ players
1️⃣-0️⃣ without an opponent having touched the ball

Megan Harper finished off a ⚡ start to yesterday's @FAWNL match! pic.twitter.com/rpsnuBOwOm

— Maidenhead United Women (@mufcyorkroadwfc) December 1, 2025

Their fast start continued with Izzy Stockton scoring the Magpies’ second from the penalty spot inside 10 minutes.

Fresh from scoring a hat-trick in the side’s 4-2 Combined Counties League Cup win at Ashford Town Middlesex on Thursday night, Stockton grabbed the ball in the absence of Katie Akerman and confidently swept home her spot kick to put Dave Kitson’s side two goals to the good.

From there it was about managing their opponents, with the returning Charley Evans in excellent form in defence alongside Myah Baksh. Together, the pair of them formed part of a watertight backline which thwarted Sports, who saw more of the ball and possession in the remainder of the first half.

United were without the influential Katie Akerman for this clash, with the player getting some winter sun on holiday in Barbados. However, she faithfully tuned into the livestream of the game from the beach and those early goals would have made the cocktails taste even sweeter.

Akerman was replaced by Martha Riley for the game, with Riley making her fourth start of the season.

Sports continued to battle away in the second half, but the Magpies looked the more likely scorers with Stockton twice denied by the heroics of Vallis - who was named player of the match after the game by her teammates and coaches.

She made an excellent save from the in-form Magpies’ striker, and when Vallis was beaten by Stockton, former Magpie Ruth Topping got back to make a vital clearance off the goal line. Following in Aaliyah Charles and Sarah Sparrow were both thwarted as they tried to squeeze home the rebound and give the home side further breathing space.

Sports felt they had strong claims for a penalty when the ball appeared to strike the arm of a Maidenhead player in the box, but the referee waved away their appeals, though they did manage to get themselves on the scoresheet in the closing seconds when Hannah Bennett lobbed a clever shot over Cornish to make the final score 2-1.

The result sees the Magpies consolidate their hold on sixth place, just a point behind Abingdon United, and now only six points behind third placed Bristol Rovers who they travel to on Sunday.

Kitson’s side will travel to Bristol looking to make it nine games undefeated in all competitions, having racked up an impressive 18 goals across the last eight matches.

During that run they’ve beaten Bridgwater United, Portishead Town and Bournemouth Sports in the league to firmly establish themselves in mid-table, while they also competed well in a 2-2 draw against Moneyfields in the FA Women’s Plate and earned useful points from draws against Abingdon United and Marine Academy Plymouth.

️ "I wasn't playing because I wasn't picking up what he wanted me to do" | Izzy Stockton spoke with typical honesty about how she has turned her form around this season in style when she spoke with @IanWaterhouse1 after yesterday's game.https://t.co/UqDlxb8B5r

— Maidenhead United Women (@mufcyorkroadwfc) December 1, 2025