Maidenhead United Women exit Plate competition after narrow defeat to Cambridge

Photo credit: Maidenhead United FC

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Maidenhead United Women 0, Cambridge United Women 1

Maidenhead United Women bowed out of the FA Women’s National League Plate competition on Sunday after a narrow home defeat to Cambridgfe United Women. 

Ed Jackson-Norris’ side were the first senior Magpies side in more than 20 years to reach the final eight of a national competition, but Stojko-Down’s second half penalty condemned them to defeat in a game of few clear cut chances. 

United had seen off Selsey and Haywards Heath Town to progress to the quarter-finals of the national competition, and would have fancied their chances of going further with home advantage on their side. 

Cambridge sit solidly in sixth place in the equivalent FA Women’s National League Division 1 South East and on Sunday they ground out victory to join Barnsley, Exeter City and Derby County in the final four. 

Stojko-Down proved to be Cambridge’s most dangerous forward and she was brought down for the penalty which defined Sunday’s game in the 67th minute. 

She then stepped up to send her penalty kick straight down the middle, with Magpies’ keeper  Rosie Willmott-Joyce unable to reajust having made a slight movement to her right. 

In the first half, the teams traded half chances. Willmott-Joyce was out quickly to smother an effort from Simmons in the 10th minute before Wood's shot narrowly missed the upright in the 13th minute as the visitors threatened once again.

Cambridge keeper Webb then pulled off an excellent save to keep the U's on level terms in the 25th minute and the first half finished goalless.

Cambridge began to get more of a foothold in the game as the second half wore on, with Stojko-Down a threat in behind the Magpies' defence. She rolled a dangerous ball across the face of the goal in the 48th minute and was then brought down for the game's decisive penalty.

  Jackson-Norris brought on Aleasha Lunn for Isacc Gregory and Nat Cowell for Amy Saunders as the Magpies desperately tried to get themselves back on level terms, but the visitors held on for a hard-fought win.

Still, this was an excellent achievement for Ed Jackson-Norris' Magpies. The last time a Maidenhead side reached the equivalent stage of a national cup competition was in 2004 when John Dreyer's Magpies were defeated by eventual finalists Canvey Island in the FA Trophy.