Report | Resilient Magpies Give Tier 3 Robins A Second Half Scare

 

The Magpies have enjoyed some thrilling games against Swindon Town Women in recent seasons and with the Robins being promoted to Tier 3 at the end of the 2025/26 season rivalries were resumed early in the new campaign with what turned out to be another goal-packed contest. 

 

Manager Dave Kitson made five changes to the starting line up for this FAWNL Cup tie, perhaps with another big league fixture at Bristol Rovers on the horizon this coming Sunday (30th August, 2pm). The Robins meanwhile included their 2025/26 season 44-goal striker, captain Annie Colston. 

 

The visitors made a breakthrough after barely 90 seconds of play had elapsed as United struggled to settle in the first thirty minutes of this match under the York Road floodlights. Libby Davies side footed home a cross from the right and within minutes Colston shot across an open goal after an ill-judged United back pass. Maidenhead battled back when Mae Goulden on her full debut sent a powerful shot across goal and narrowly wide of the target after a corner landed at her feet at the far post but moments later Swindon had their second when Katie Sherwood bundled the ball home from a corner. 

 

The Magpies got back into the game in the nineteenth minute when Megan Harper played a smart pass into the feet of Izzy Stockton who finished crisply past fomer Magpie Mia Smith. Swindon however responded quickly and Davies was denied by a fine save at full stretch by debutant goalkeeper Grace Amos at her near post and the overworked custodian then had to be alert to clear with her feet under pressure from Colston after another poorly executed back pass. Masters of their own downfall, a third was conceded by Maidenhead when possession was needlessly given away when playing out from the back, the ball fed to Davies to score with a deflected goal and the stunned Magpies were 4-1 down minutes later when Colston cunningly flicked the ball into the path of Davies who only had Amos to beat to complete her hat-trick. 

 

Teams with lesser spirit might have given in at this stage, but United’s response and performance in the last hour of the game was tremendous. Before the break, Aaliyah Charles and Poppy Dearlove linked to release Harper who saw a Swindon player get a half-block in on a deflected shot which was saved. Smith also denied Stockton who was played in by an intelligent pass by the hard-working Goulden. 

 

Kitson made a number of changes at half time and in the opening stages of the second half. A shot from Colston was saved comfortably by Amos as Maidenhead continued to grow into the game. Their high-press earned them a free-kick after Smith was forced to defend a back pass by gathering the ball in her hands, Molly McKeveer’s free-kick going into the wall. The tall United defender then nodded wide from a Dearlove corner. 

 

On the break the dangerous Colston went on a solo run down the left and fired a well struck effort narrowly over. Substitute Leah Robertson saw a shot well-saved after an exciting run, before Davies shot wide following a quickly taken Swindon free-kick before hitting the crossbar moment later. Still the action continued as the exciting Dani Dias – also on as a substitute – turned her player and saw her cross shot go over the top before a free-kick from the same player was struck over the bar. From the restart, Jade Radburn left Smith in danger with a square pass and for the second season running Megan Harper left a Swindon goalkeeper with egg on their face as her alertness allowed her to walk the loose ball into the net as the arrears were reduced. 

 

With goal difference a potential factor in a difficult group also featuring Wycombe Wanderers and Chelsea’s Academy team, Kitson will have been frustrated to see a fine strike from substitute Taylor MacDonald beat Amos to restore the three-goal margin after a disputed free-kick, one of a number of decision which frustrated the Magpies in the closing quarter of a half which the spectator couldn’t take their eyes off. Davies blazed a clear chance over at the end, but United and Kitson will have been satisfied with the response after that difficult first thirty minutes. 

 

United will now go to Gloucestershire FA HQ, BS32 4AG for their FAWNL fixture with Bristol Rovers who finished fourth in the table last season. 

 

Amos, Webb, Akerman (sub Dover ’46), Dearlove, Charles (sub Dias '65), Stockton (sub Mitchell 53’), Harper, Goulden, McKeever,Huntley (sub Vince '69), Cechova (sub Robertson '46). Subs not used: Morrison, Akkache. 

 

Alex Dover, Katie Vince and assistant manager Harry Baker gave their thoughts on the match with FC Video post-match, you can catch their interviews via our You Tube channel at youtube.com/@maidenheadunitedwomen2008