Maidenhead United Women bow out of the FA Cup after historic run

Photo credit: Darren Woolley

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Southampton Women's FC 3, Maidenhead United Women 0

Maidenhead United Women's historic run in this season's Adobe Women's FA Cup was ended on Sunday with the Magpies losing 3-0 away to league rivals Southampton Women's FC.

Maidenhead became the first senior side since 1886 to reach the second round of the FA Cup when they defeated Sutton United Women 4-3 away from home with an extra-time winner from Macey Nikiah-Walters.

However, their hopes of hosting Championship side Watford in the third round of the competition on Sunday were dashed by a thoroughly professional performance from their hosts at the Winklebury Football Complex in Basingstoke on Sunday.

Maidenhead looked to have a small psychological advantage over their hosts coming into the clash, with Ed Jackson-Norris' side sitting a place and a couple of points above Southampton in the FA Women's National League Division One South West.

However, that counted for little on a cold, damp afternoon in Hampshire.

The early stages of the clash were fairly competitive; however, Southampton drew first blood when Chloe Ball fired the ball into the back of the Magpies' net in the 20th minute.

Had the Magpies managed to get into half-time trailing by just a single goal, the outcome might have been different, but the concession of a second on the stroke of half-time really sucked the wind from their sails. The visitors needed to get back into the dressing room to regroup, but Ellie Chaffe's finish in the 45th minute was a hammer blow to their hopes of progressing.

Jackson-Norris attempted to breathe some life into the tie when he brought on Jade Hockey and Nikiah-Walters for Vicky Carvill and Aleasha Lunn just before the hour mark.

But as the Magpies attempted to readjust, the Sirens bagged their third of the afternoon through Shannon Sievwright to kill off any hopes of a comeback.

So, it's Southampton Women's FC who'll host the Hornets on Sunday (December 10), where winning sides will pocket £35,000 from the FA's Prize draw. Southampton Women's are eight times winners of the competition but in recent years have dropped down to the same division as Maidenhead in Division 1 South West

Maidenhead will also be in cup action this weekend, when they travel to Haywards Heath Town (Sunday, 2pm kick-off).