MUWFC took their first point of the new FAWNL campaign thanks to a 1-1 draw with Keynsham in an exciting York Road clash.
The match was an end-to-end encounter throughout and notice of the thrilling fare to follow was served inside the opening quarter of an hour as Magpies ‘keeper Kody Cornish turned a firmly struck shot from Amelie Collins around the post before the home captain Simone O’Brien saw a goal-bound effort blocked at point-blank following a Maidenhead corner. United’s set pieces gave Keynsham plenty to think about, Katie Akerman seeing a well-struck effort bounce back off the crossbar just minutes after the away side had the ball in the net only to be denied by the flag of assistant Mr Hanrahan.
Sarah Sparrow for United and Abi Todd for the visitors exchanged off target efforts in quick succession and the industrious Aaliyah Charles was denied by K’s ‘keeper Chloe Jones after being put through on goal. Cornish was out quickly to smother the threat of the impressive Brooke Stirrup before Akerman put a good opportunity over the top after a blocked shot had landed handily for her.
Goals were surely coming, and it was no surprise that barely two minutes separated United’s opener from Keynsham’s equaliser. The Maidenhead goal was a glorious counter attack started by Megan Harper, whose run and pass found Akerman to slip a delicious pass through for Macey Walters to lash her shot into the roof of the net. Unfortunately, Stirrup was quick to level up – getting in behind the Maidenhead back and putting a composed finish past Cornish.
Whilst the game went back and forth again in the second period, it would be fair to suggest that the away side had the better of chances created on a hot afternoon. K’s captain Ciera Lundy saw her effort saved by Cornish and the Magpies ‘keeper then denied the outstanding Liz Fogarty whose header seemed to be goal-bound. Harper tested Jones from range before Helena Costo shot across the face of goal. A last-ditch challenge by Katie Vince stopped an almost certain Keynsham goal late on and at the death United could have won maximum points when substitute Chloe Chapman stretched the K’s defence, only to be snuffed out by expert defending from Fogarty which ensured the points were shared.
Share this post: