Magpies eye record points tally and cup glory after Moneyfields setback

Photo: Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United Women may have lost 3-0 to promotion chasers Moneyfields on Sunday but they remain on course to comfortably beat their best-ever points tally at this level.

The Magpies travelled to Moneys needing just a point to move level with last season’s record tally, achieved under former boss Ed Jackson-Norris.

They might not have achieved that as they were unpicked and outplayed at times by a team gunning for the Division 1 South West title.

But for large spells they held their own and manager Dave Kitson believes there’s plenty to be positive about as he looks ahead to the final weeks of the season.

The Magpies sit fifth in the table, just a few points adrift of fourth placed Bridgwater United, and will – according to Kitson – comfortably beat their record points tally.

They’re also through to the final of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup for the second time in as many seasons having edged out Milton Keynes Dons on penalties earlier this month. League rivals Ascot United stand in their way and Kitson is encouraging Magpies fans to get down to Holloways Park for the final on Sunday, March 15, adding they’ll be ‘amazed by the quality’.

Reflecting on Sunday’s result and performance, Kitson admitted they’d been beaten by the better side, but he’s confident they can bridge the gap to teams like Moneyfields in the coming seasons.

Tierney Scott fired Moneys in front in the 36th minute and two goals in the space of two second half minutes from Sophie Phelps in the 61st minute and Brittany Jeal in the 63rd, took the result out of reach.

In an interview for FC Video, Kitson said: “They’re a good team. They’re well coached. They move around all over the place.

“You never know where they’re going to pop up. Their captain, their number eight was very good, their number 12 was very good. It’s the consistency with which they do things.

“Whether it’s a pass that must be made, they make it, whether it’s a header that must be won, they win it. When you put the ball over the top, I don’t think I’ve seen them shank anything. It went back properly. They’re a good team.

“And it’s good for the girls to see it. That’s where we’re trying to get to. And we’ll find different ways for that to happen. But it’s good for our young players to see them play.”

The Magpies were narrowly beaten on penalties by Moneyfields in the FA Women’s Plate competition earlier this season, but Kitson saw a much-improved side and performance from the hosts on Sunday.

“I don’t think that’s the same Moneyfields team that came to play us in the cup,” he said.

“They’ve signed a few more players and have changed the way they play. They used to play the ball to the centre half and hit it diagonally and it was easier to play against. They now mix it up, there’s lots of passes going into midfield and overlaps and rotation. it’s like the red arrows. You never know where they’re going to crop up. Those are the best teams.

“Those are the levels we’re trying to get to, but it may take us a bit longer.”

Kitson added that there’s a huge amount to be positive about after a successful first season in charge. It’s one which could yet break records and see more silverware put in the display cabinets.

“There’s a huge amount to be positive about,” he said. “We’ll beat the best points total we’ve ever had. We’ll do that comfortably.

“We’ve got a cup final to look forward to, that’s against another really good team (Ascot United).

“But I said to the girls, if you want to be successful, they don’t put anyone easy in your way. You have to go and earn it. You have to go out there and play the way we know we can play.

“It didn’t go our way today, but that doesn’t define our season. Moneys have only lost once. They’ve won 14. It’s a good record and Swindon were in the same boat until we beat them. They were 11 from 11 at the time.

“But we know we can do it. We see these performances where we know we can go toe-to-toe with very good teams and we can win. On the day they were just better than us, but it doesn’t define our season. And in the games coming up we’ll be confident we can win them all.

“I always say the same thing. You’ll be amazed by the standard, it took me by surprise. I saw some of the Moneys players today and I thought they were seriously talented. We’re the same.

“You’ll be amazed by what you see and the standard of the football.”