Maidenhead United Women claimed their first three-point FA Women’s National League haul of the season with a convincing display in a 3-0 victory over Worthing at York Road. The Rebels – who took six points from the Magpies last season – were indebted to an inspired goalkeeping performance from Ella Hunkin, who pulled off a series of fine saves as the Magpies carved open plenty of opportunities.
United were two goals to the good after barely twenty minutes had been played. Chloe Chapman on her first start for United put a well struck effort narrowly wide of the target before Katie Akerman’s powerful effort from the byline stung the palms of Hunkin who could only parry the ball into the netting at her near post. Before the visitors had chance to settle it was two, as Chloe Webb threaded a delicious through ball to Macey Walters who skipped around Hunkin and walked the ball into the net despite Mia South’s determined last-ditch attempts to stop the goal.
Webb’s cross then agonisingly avoided a telling touch from captain Simone O’Brien before Hunkin pulled off a magnificent save to deny Akerman. Chapman was denied by Hunkin – albeit the offside flag was raised – before Akerman drove another effort through a crowd of players with Hunkin’s intervention insufficient to prevent the ball from creeping inside the far post to complete the scoring before the break.
Maidenhead continued to enjoy the better of the game in the second period and Megan Harper, Chapman and Molly McKeever were all denied by Hunkin who continued to stand tall. Harper saw a clever effort bounce to safety off the top of the crossbar but the underworked United goalkeeper Kody Cornish had to be alert to maintain a thoroughly deserved clean sheet when plunging to his left to instinctively deny Amber Hazelwood what looked to be a certain consolation goal.
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