Cup Winners | MUWFC 3-1 Newport Pagnell Town

Maidenhead United Women finally got their hands on the Berks & Bucks Senior Women’s Cup for the first time with victory in the final against hard-working Tier 6 side Newport Pagnell Town at Beaconsfield on Sunday 16th March. 

 

The Magpies have lost in the final three times before, but this time they started strongly against a side who had knocked out opponents from a higher division in their three previous ties in the competition in 2024/25. Izzy Stockton had already struck the inside of Laura Beevor’s near post from close range before a familiar burst into the box by midfielder Mia Parker was ended by a strong tackle by the Buckinghamshire side, the loose ball being swept home by Natalie Cowell. 

 

Cowell – later named Player of the Match – was at the double five minutes later when the hard-working Emily Norfolk regained possession on the edge of the area and the ball ran through for the Magpies forward to slide home the second under the onrushing Beevor. United two goals to the good after twenty minutes. 

 

Parker was snuffed out again by the busy Beevor as Maidenhead threatened to run away with matters, but two key injuries perhaps slowed the Magpies down as both Isacc Gregory and Jazz King were unfortunate to have to limp off. The Swans posed a threat going forward through the likes of the impressive trio Lil Sanders, Jasmine Spence and Chloe Martin but it was United substitute Simone O’Brien who nearly extended the lead when denied at full stretch by Beevor from the edge of the box. 

 

That save proved important, because barely three minutes into the second half Newport Pagnell struck. A foul on the edge of the box by Libby Doyle was punished in style with a classy clean hit by Martin past Magpies ‘keeper Kenny Clarke. The match thereafter became end-to-end, with O’Brien’s cut back slammed wide of the target by Katie Akerman before Macey Walters skied an effort following identical work by O’Brien. Akerman saw her well struck free-kick tipped onto the bar by Beevor and Walters nodded the rebound agonisingly high. The Swans for their part were also working some neat moves and certainly enjoyed their fair share of good possession. 

 

The goal which cinched the Cup came with just over fifteen minutes left. Two substitutes combined, as RJ Jauad-Taborda’s wonderful cross from the right was tucked home left footed by top-scorer Walters at the far post. Another key moment came moments later when Clarke denied Newport Pagnell at her near post when The Swans seemed destined to score and O’Brien was also denied by the out-stretched arm of Beevor from another free-kick. Referee Mr Lathey drew proceedings to a close after a short period of stoppage time and both sides could be hugely proud of their performance on the day.