Report: Harper Heroics Ensure Plate Progression

The Magpies women recorded a thrilling last-gasp 2-1 victory on Sunday afternoon against divisional rivals Bridgwater United to advance to the next round of the FAWNL Plate. 

 

In a full-blooded encounter in continual York Road rain, the visitors started the brighter of the two sides. A good move by the visitors opened up the Maidenhead defence and Eden Hurst saw her shot on goal kept out by a last-ditch block. Beatriz Kretteis was next to see an effort kept out by the body of a Maidenhead defender. Megan Harper glanced a headed opportunity wide of the Bridgwater goal from a Sarah Sparrow corner before a tackle on Amelie Mayani saw the young Magpies forward limp out of the game. There were a number of calls made in the first period which frustrated the Magpies, not least when the marauding Sparrow was seemingly taken out in the box with the referee waving away shouts for a penalty kick. 

 

United started the second period on the front foot as captain Simone O’Brien hooked the ball away from a Bridgwater player which allowed Sparrow to centre for Lyndsey Preston – on home debut - to put in a shot which was blocked into the path of Harper, whose effort was pawed away by the ever-impressive Charlotte Johnson. Substitute Izzy Stockton then closed down a Bridgwater defender to allow Katie Akerman a shot on goal which went over the top. A goal was coming and in the 48th minute Aaliyah Charles and Preston worked a one-two which allowed Charles to play in O’Brien whose perfect reverse-pass found Stockton with only Johnson to beat and Izzy’s measure finish capped off the opener. 

 

Bridgwater hit back and were level twenty minutes into the second period. A clipped pass over the top saw Scarlett Mills beat the offside trap. The Bridgwater player was taken out by the advancing Mia Smith but the ball rolled kindly to substitute Connie Pengelly to tap into an empty net. United hit back, with Stockton stabbing a close range effort wide of the onrushing Johnson and wide of the target whilst, with Sparrow a threat from set pieces all game, United’s Canadian saw a free-kick brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Johnson. The league game between the sides last month ended in a draw, but this tie in the very last minute of the ninety was settled when Charley Evans brought the ball out of defence, O’Brien sent a long pass into the channel for Stockton to pull the ball back for Megan Harper to score a timely first goal for the club.