MUWFC 2-1 Bournemouth Sports

Maidenhead United enjoyed home comforts once more as they deservedly edged out newly-promoted Bournemouth Sports for a second victory at York Road inside four days following Thursday’s FAWNL Cup victory against Ashford Town. The Magpies first three-point haul of the season was United’s fourth victory from their five most recent York Road outings. 

 

Unlike on Thursday night where United were on the back foot in the early stages, this time they dominated chances from the start. Macey-Nikiah Walters was denied at her near post by outstanding goalkeeper Sam Chrippes within twenty seconds of kick off and minutes later a ball from the right from Walters was intelligently dummied by Izzy Stockton with Simone O’Brien bravely denied by the onrushing Chrippes. 

 

Captain Sarah Thompson then nodded a corner against the far post as chances continued to come. Hannah Bennett saw a free-kick go off target for the visitors before Isacc Gregory and O’Brien linked up to give Walters an opportunity which she fired over. 

 

Within moments of that chance, United went ahead deservedly when Emily Norfolk – fresh from a goal and an assist on Thursday night – put a delicious ball through for Walters to finish decisively. 

 

Nat Cowell hooked an opportunity over the top from a Thompson free-kick before Walters saw a firm angled drive punched over the bar by Chrippes. Thompson headed wide from another United corner and Ruth Topping side-footed a clear chance straight at Chrippes at the end of a good move before the visitors made United pay for missed chances as they equalized against the run of play on the stroke of half time with a composed finish by Rosie Eden, a first ever FAWNL goal for Sports. 

 

At the break, manager Ed Jackson-Norris made a double-change as Katie Akerman and Megan Halfacree replaced Emily Norfolk – by now on a yellow card – and Ashlee Withers. Maidenhead continued to dominated the ball, with Akerman firing over and Cowell twice kept out by Chrippes. 

 

Walters saw a header sensibly pushed behind by the Sports ‘keeper who was beginning to become a thorn in the side as they also stopped O’Brien at the far post. Liane Folkenstern and Bennett had efforts on goal which did not trouble Danielle Hull in the United goal. 

 

As the game wore on in the searing heat – temperatures in the eighties were recorded at the ground – the pace of the game slowed and we looked likely to see a share of the spoils. Substitute Tia Johnson – lively in her cameo – sent an effort off target and the dominant Akerman had two further range-finders before the former QPR player won the game for the Maidenhead with barely two minutes of normal time remaining. 

 

Akerman admitted after the game that her effort which drifted over the head of the otherwise faultless Chrippes had been a cross, but the United midfield general and her team mates deserved what proved to be the winning goal despite seven minutes of injury times which gave the visitors forlorn hope of an equalizer.