Maidenhead United handed out six of the best to struggling Worthing on their own patch on Sunday to complete a league double over the Sussex side and to avenge defeat in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup back in September. There were five different goalscorers for Dave Kitson’s patient team who ran riot in the second half after the Rebels young team largely frustrated the Magpies in a first half during which United went through the gears.
There was one change from the side which had stunned title-chasing Swindon Town the previous weekend, club captain coming back into the side for the injured Myah Baksh. This necessitated a change in shape for the Magpies and a different challenge in a game in which they started as favourites. Maidenhead made a bright start when Lyndsey Preston forced a save from Ella Hunkin in the home goal. From the resultant corner Katie Akerman also tested the Rebels ‘keeper.
The game was rather a slow burner with United struggling to connect their passes but the visitors dominated the first half chances. Firstly Sarah Sparrow shot over the top after Preston and top-scorer Izzy Stockton linked up. Captain Simone O’Brien was next to go close, she spun at the far post when receiving a pass from Stockton but saw her shot blocked. Megan Harper was next to receive a telling pass from Stockton, Hunkin saving the shot as the pressure grew. Stockton herself was then denied by a brilliant Hunkin save after latching onto an intelligent ball from Preston.
The home side will have been happier to see the half time whistle and the scoresheet blank, but Maidenhead led within minutes of the start of the second period. A picture-book goal it was too, following a Maidenhead throw captain O’Brien received the ball on the edge of the area and sent a dipping effort over the head of Hunkin. The lead was extended before the hour, minutes after Molly McKeever – so composed in defence once again – headed over a presentable chance from a Katie Akerman free-kick. Stockton it was who scored the second when tapping home after Hunkin had saved from Harper after a clipped through ball from Akerman. The game was probably settled five minutes later with the team goal of the game – Stockton held the ball up for Akerman to spray a first time pass to O’Brien on the left, her pass into the box was held up cleverly by Harper who touched the ball onto the onrushing Charles who hit the roof of the net with her first time shot from fifteen yards.
The final ten minutes saw three further goals as the home side tired. Goalkeeper Kenny Clarke’s long clearance saw Megan Harper beat the offside line and finish right-foot past the exposed Hunkin. The Worthing was then caught in no-mans-land minutes later as Akerman’s rushed effort from distance rolled apologetically into the net and the scoring was completed by Stockton, taking advantage of a loose pass and sending the ball into the bottom corner. Clarke had to be alert to palm a free-kick from Hazlewood away from goal to complete a very well deserved clean sheet.
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