Report | Magpies Take Derby Honours As Wycombe Wouded

 

The Magpies Women claimed the early bragging rights with an emphatic success at Burnham FC against Wycombe Wanderers in the Berks & Bucks derby to keep their hopes alive of progressing through the FAWNL Cup group stage. In doing so they inflicted a first defeat of the season by FAWNL opposition on The Chairgirls who had won three from three league matches in their debut season in the competition. 

 

United meant business from the start and within 25 seconds Mae Goulden was put away down the right and her shot across goal hit the stanchion inside the near post and bounced back into the play, the eagle-eyed officials fortunately were well placed to award the goal. The visitors poured forward in the early stages, and Goulden nearly added to her first ever goal for the club when a ball into the box by Simone O’Brien deflected in her path, the instinctive right-footed lob going over the top of Axelle Courlander’s goal. The Wanderers goalkeeper then rather flapped at the next cross into the box and the loose ball fell for captain O’Brien who fired over. 

 

Wycombe’s problems increased after twenty minutes when Cherry Preisner’s long kick form her hands caused uncertainty in the home defence and pacy Leah Robertson – on her first start – ran on to lift the bouncing ball with an inch-perfect lob with the side of her right foot over the tall figure of the advancing Courlander. Before the half hour mark it was three, as Katie Akerman’s free-kick caused chaos in the Wycombe box and with Maidenhead players queuing up to strike the loose ball Megan Harper was there first to score via a deflection. 

 

Maidenhead didn’t have it all their own way in that first half, as sickness and injury to Harper and Molly McKeever saw Dave Kitson forced into two substitutions before the break, Poppy Dearlove and Gemma Bloor replacing them – the latter pulling on a Maidenhead shirt for the first time in 1,029 days following a cruel ACL injury and acquitting herself well on her return. Wycombe to their immense credit fought their way back into the game, Mimi Hodges and Anisha Hall having decent efforts off target before Emma Delves was denied by an incredible save from Cherry Preisner. Before the break however United had a fourth when Katie Akerman left fly from range and for the second Sunday in succession she had a spectacular goal to her name. 

 

The home side made changes at the break and came out strong. The impressive Jess Watkins was denied by Preisner who saved the Wycombe forward’s header and minutes later Watkins was thwarted by Cherry again after finding herself one on one with the Magpies ‘keeper. Mia Delaney denied Preisner the clean sheet she deserved when showing composure to net from close range with time running out but United ended well and Courlander had to save well to deny firstly Robertson and later substitute Izzy Stockton. 

 

The victory means that United are third in the four-team group with three points from a possible six. Their last game will see them host Chelsea’s PGA side on Sunday 27th September. 

 

 

Another derby encounter as the Magpies entertain Abingdon United, looking to defeat the Oxfordshire side for the first time (York Road, 2pm, Sunday 13th September). Join us by pre-booking your tickets for this big FAWNL fixture HERE. 

 

Preisner, Vince, Dover, Akerman (sub Dias 63'), Harper (sub Dearlove 43'), O'Brien, Robertson, Goulden (sub Stockton 68'), McKeever (sub Bloor 35'), Evans (sub Mitchell 75'), Huntley. Subs not used: Brown, Cechova. 

 

Gemma Bloor and Leah Robertson discussed a successful afternoon with FC Video post match, whilst manager Dave Kitson gave his verdict too. 

 

To follow.