The Magpies earned another point towrds their target of a first ever top-half finish in the FA
Women’s National League Division 1 South West with a draw in their longest away trip.
United manager Dave Kitson however felt that his side passed up “enough chances to win
two or three matches” against a battling Marine Academy Plymouth side, who - barring an
unlikely set of results - have secured Tier 4 safety in their first ever season at this level.
The 400 mile round trip saw United travel to an away fixture by coach - supplied by our travel
providers, Motts Travel - for the first time this season, which allowed the players to arrive fresh
at Ivybridge Town FC rather than endure the long drive of their own accord.
And that freshness - for a side who had recorded back-to-back five-nil victories in league and
cup - was in evidence as United struck early in South Devon. After barely seven minutes had
elapsed Megan Harper scored with a strike from outside of the area which dipped as it passed
over the head of Jasmine Read in goal for the home side and nestled inside the far post.
United then went on the dominate almost the entirety of the first half. The impressive Sienna
Gilbert had an effort from range which dipped over Kenny Clarke’s goal but Maidenhead
countered with captain Simone O’Brien’s header hitting the crossbar before Katie Vince saw
her shot on goal whistle narrowly over the top. Katie Akerman hit an attempt on goal
wide of the target before Lucy Solloway got clear of the Magpies defence on a soft and
bumpy surface but rushed her shot which went wide of Clarke’s far post.
Top-scorer Izzy Stockton shot across goal and then went even closer, nodding over a
delicious Chloe Webb cross following a smart pass by Charley Evans. The outstanding
Read denied Stockton in a one-on-one and a matter of moments later O’Brien was
denied by the busy MAP ‘keeper. Another glorious move saw right back Vince again
fire over the top when Evans and Webb again combined, with Lyndsey Preston pulling
the ball back at the far post. Gilbert hit a post before the break for the hosts before
Molly McKeever was yellow carded for Maidenhead for bringing down a MAP forward.
If a breathless first half had seen United somehow end only one goal to the good, the
second period saw MAP come out with a more agressive attitude and a higher press
which caused Maidenhead problems. Sophie Pearse had a shot saved by Clarke
within a minute of the half starting and barely ten minutes into the second period the
Devonians were level when Gilbert scored with a well placed effort just a minute after
Kelsey Blight had threatened to punish some hesitant United defending as the rain
began to fall.
A Maidenhead corner in response fell to Aaliyah Charles who narrowly missed the
target and lively substitute Chloe Chapman had no fewer than three separarate
efforts go inches wide of Read’s goal in the closing stages. There was nearly a late
winner for either side - substitute Myah Baksh’s goalbound header from a corner was
brilliantly blocked and play switched to the other end where Ellie Bishop was denied
by the agility of Clarke, who made a block and recovered to smother the loose ball.
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