Report: Maidenhead United Women 4-1 Southampton Women's FC

After the disappointment of being unable to grasp a point from Sunday’s narrow 2-1 defeat to second in the league Moneyfields, the Magpies bounced back with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Southampton Women’s football club on Wednesday night, writes Daisy Miners. 

 

Manager Ed made four changes to the side that faced Moneyfields with Emily Norfolk, Libby Doyle, Mia Parker and RJ Jauad-Taborda all gaining a place in the starting eleven. 

 

Despite the bitter cold conditions at York Road, Maidenhead opened the game with confidence and sustained pressure, working hard to break the visitor’s defence. However, it was Southampton who claimed the first shot on target after battling through the Magpies’ strong midfield display. The ball was collected with ease by keeper Kenny Clarke, keeping the scoreline at 0-0. 

 

Maidenhead were not shy of shots in the first half, with Doyle going one on one with the keeper before being forced into a tight angle and hitting the side netting. This was shortly followed by a corner for the home side where the Magpies’ captain, Sarah Thompson, fired a shot just wide of the guests goal. 

 

The well-worked press from the home side paid off after a defensive error from Southampton allowed Taborda to weave into the penalty area and draw a foul, resulting in a clear penalty. Macey Nikiah-Walters was the player to step up to the penalty spot to open the scoring with a tidy finish to put the home side in front in the 37th minute. 

 

The deserved lead didn’t last long with Southampton responding only five minutes later after winning a corner. The six-yard box was crowded with red shirts as they managed to force an own goal from the Maidenhead keeper to level the score and get themselves back in the game. 

 

The score line was unaffected for the remainder of the first half with the credit due to a fierce and clean challenge by Magpies’ defender Freya Meadows Tuson who prevented the oppositions’ Larissa White from going one on one with the ‘keeper in the final minute of the half. 

 

 

Similarly to the first half, the home side kicked off the remaining 45 minutes with a high, sustained press as they dominated the pitch and looked to be in complete control. 

 

A great ball from Parker found the feet of Doyle who was then fouled by the visitor’s keeper, resulting in the second penalty of the game and a chance to fire the hosts closer to claiming the three points. Once again, Walters converted the penalty and secured herself a brace in the 51st minute of the game. 

 

The second goal for Maidenhead allowed for a boost in confidence which was evident as they worked the ball with little trouble, claiming majority of the possession and the strong defensive line snuffed out any opportunities that Southampton managed to fabricate, not letting the visitors register a single shot on target in the second half . 

 

Only seven minutes after Walters catapulted the home side in front, they further secured their lead through a strong shot which the Southampton goalkeeper parried into her own net, giving Maidenhead a two-goal cushion. 

 

A free kick won by the home side in the 64th provided further threat to the visitors as substitute Akerman whistled the ball just over the cross bar to go out for a goal kick. After registering a few more decent efforts in front of goal, the Magpies put the game to bed after Charles performed hard and successful work down the line and Parker was in place to put the ball in the net to secure Maidenhead’s fourth of the evening in the closing minutes of the game.