Harper the hero as Maidenhead United hand Swindon first league defeat

Megan Harper. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United Women 1, Swindon Town Women 0

Maidenhead United pulled off one of the results of the season on Sunday as they defeated unbeaten league leaders Swindon Town Women at Burnham’s 1878 Stadium.

Dave Kitson’s side were beaten in their first match back after the Christmas and New Year break, losing 3-1 at home to Bridgwater United at Ascot United’s Racecourse Ground.

But they bounced back from that setback in fine – if unexpected – style, trampling all over Swindon’s 100 per cent league record in the process.

Swindon had won all 11 matches in the FA Women’s National League Division 1 South West this season, but Kitson’s side weren’t overawed by that statistic or the visitors’ form going into the game.

After an exciting – if goalless first period – the Magpies forged ahead in the 67th minute when Megan Harper’s persistence paid off as she beat Hannah Cox to the ball and was able to walk it into the net.

Swindon struck the frame of the bar for a second time in the match as they tried desperately to get back on terms, but the Magpies held on for their most notable victory of the season.

The result sees the Magpies move above Ascot United Women to sixth place and they’re also now back to within touching distance of Abingdon United and Bridgwater United just above them in the table.

1' Underway at the 1878 Stadium. pic.twitter.com/itjKWl8PDq

— Maidenhead United Women (@mufcyorkroadwfc) February 1, 2026

The Magpies lost Charley Evans to injury in the early moments, but it didn’t rob the hosts of momentum with Harper’s shot on the run being nudged behind by a combination of keeper and defender in the 13th minute.

From the resulting corner, Molly McKeever rose well but headed over the bar, while Maidenhead’s strong start continued with captain Katie Akerman warming the palms of the Swindon keeper with a powerful drive in the 24th minute.

Lyndsey Preston came close again before the half-hour mark, dragging an effort narrowly wide of the mark from Aaliyah Charles’ long ball.

But Swindon finished the half in the ascendancy. Viveash curled a shot narrowly wide of the post before McDonald struck the crossbar from a free kick after an apparent handball by a Maidenhead player.

Clarke then came to the Magpies rescue in the closing stages of the half when she saved from Viveash with her legs with Skye Bedwell skewing the following up wide of the post.

The contest continued to swing from end to end, with neither side able to stamp their authority on it. Colston must have thought she’d scored in the 66th minute when she took the ball around Clarke and fired goalwards, but McKeever tracked back well to clear it off the line.

Within a minute, the Magpies were in front, with Harper showing great determination to hold off her marker and take the ball around the keeper before rolling it into an empty net.

Swindon weren’t about to let their 100 per cent record in the league go without a fight and they hit the crossbar for a second time through McDonald’s free kick in the 70th minute, but the Magpies frontline continued to terrorise the visitors’ defence and Preston’s miscued effort flashed wide moments later.

Kitson made a series of changes in the closing minutes, with Matha Riley, Simone O’Brien and Ines Cipriano coming on for Akerman, Stockton and Harper, and those players helped shore up a famous league win for the Magpies.

Having beaten one of the title contenders, the Magpies will next face bottom of the table Worthing away from home on Sunday (February 8).