Magpies beaten on penalties but push promotion-chasers Moneyfields to the limit

Megan Harper (left) celebrates her goal with teammates. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United Women’s coaching team of Dave Kitson and Sean Hillier will have been greatly encouraged by their side’s performance in Sunday’s League Plate penalty shootout defeat to Moneyfields.

Moneyfields are one of the FAWNL Division 1 South West promotion contenders, and financially, one of the division’s big hitters, but they’ll have left Berkshire knowing they’d been given a real test after edging the shootout 5-3, following an evenly contested 2-2 draw.

This defeat will have hurt the Magpies, but they can take great consolation from the manner of their defeat and how competitive they were over the course of nearly two hours against one of the best sides at their level.

In 90 minutes, they’re also now undefeated in four matches since their 3-0 away defeat at the hands of Moneyfields back in early October.

Kitson made three changes to his side from the Magpies team which defeated Portishead 3-2 away from home the previous Sunday.

Goalkeeper Mia Smith has moved on to a rival team while defenders Katie Vince and Molly McKeever were rested for this Plate tie. Kody Cornish, Tarran Williams and Alex Dover returned to the starting lineup and they - alongside their teammates - stood up well to the best Moneyfields could throw at them.

The visitors had scored 20 goals in their previous four league and cup matches, and they started the game with Megan Fox hitting a powerful effort which struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced away.

It was a reprieve for the Magpies who then duly took the lead when a foul on Izzy Stockton presented Katie Akerman with the chance to send a long ball into the area, and a moment of uncertainty was capitalised on by Megan Harper who nipped in to push a shot beyond Hannah Haughton.

The lead lasted only 10 minutes and Cornish will be kicking herself for the part she played in Moneyfields’ equaliser. Holding onto the ball for a fraction too long, she conceded a corner from which Sophie Phelps was able to turn the ball home to make it 1-1.

Cornish made amends with a brilliant reaction stop to thwart Shannon Albuery to keep the scores level at the break.

The Hampshire side edged the second half in terms of possession and territory, but Maidenhead arguably had the better chances. Chloe Webb picked out Stockton who was inches away from tapping home from close range, while Harper very nearly squeezed home a shot from a tight angle at the far post.

They did eventually their clinical edge around the hour mark when Stockton found the bottom corner of the net from outside of the area for her fourth goal in as many games.

In scoring, Maidenhead became only the second Division 1 South West team to score twice against Moneyfields this season, but the league’s top scorers responded once again when captain Ali Hall showed her quality and experience of playing in the Championship when she executed a well-judged lob to make it 2-2.

Harper came close to winning it late on when her intended cross drifted just past the far post, while at the other end Aaliyah Charles had to clear the ball off her own goal line to prevent the visitors snatching the win in normal time.

The visitors had a goal ruled out for offside in extra time while Albuery turned and shot wide during the period. Maidenhead’s best opportunity to settle the game before penalties came when Chloe Chapman was played through on goal by Stockton, but she was denied by Dream Surin just when she was about to pull the trigger. The challenge had to be absolutely perfect, and it was.

In the shootout, Moneyfields were clinical, scoring all their kicks. Akerman - through a retaken spot kick - Charley Evans and Stockton were also on target for the Magpies, but Myah Baksh – who had an otherwise impeccable first game for Maidenhead - put her penalty over the top.

Speaking with Madison Blunden after Sunday’s tie, assistant coach Hillier said: “It was incredible from start to finish. The players implemented our game plan perfectly. Our defensive play was amazing, and we also created some chances and we went toe-to-toe with a team that are really pushing to get themselves out of this league they’re in. I’m very proud of the girls today.

“I felt we went in front with our first attack, and then we weathered the storm and had a great chance to go into half-time in front. But the referee decided to do the eight-second rule on our keeper, and they got a corner, and they scored from it. Our momentum could have changed there a lot more, but we grew into the game again and kept matching them for the rest of the half.

“We’re so proud of how the girls played. Our challenge is to play like this week in and week out and if we can we’ll climb the table. But they are understanding how we want to play now and they’re delivering it on a consistent basis, the last four games have been incredible. It was a very good performance and we’re very happy.”

The Magpies are in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup action this Sunday away to Penn & Tylers Green, 2pm kick-off.

United, who are seventh in Division 1 South West, return to league action at home to Marine Academy Plymouth on Sunday, November 23, 2pm kick-off.