Maidenhead & Windsor

Maidenhead were forced to field a depleted side with both captain and vice captain being injured and other regulars unable to play, so a 12-man squad stepped out to play old rivals West Witney.

The game began with Witney very much on top and dominating the play. Hard work was required from all Maidenhead defence and GK Lucy Stevenson was on fine form as always, making some excellent saves right from the beginning.

Captain Emma Townend looked very comfortable on the left hand side, feeding the ball through to speedy Chantal Frost who made some good runs up the line. Continual running as always from Kathy Cain gave Maidenhead some real chances but the score remained 0-0.

The first goal of the game came when a forward penetrated the maidenhead defence and took a shot at goal. Although saved, the clearance went straight to a Witney player and a messy goal line scramble gave the away side the lead.

Unable to get back from this Maidenhead conceived another goal, this time from a penalty corner, which was sadly deflected in by a maidenhead player. At half time the score remained 2-0.

The second half began with Maidenhead fighting for everything.

Fi Hinds and Bex Miall in the middle worked well together and created chances for forwards Cain and Debbie Keel to run onto. Maidenhead's hard work paid off when youngster Emily Wilkins made a blinding run to the base line and then into the circle and forcing a foul which resulted in a penalty corner.

Sam Archer stepped up to take the shot and with a clean push out and stop, she took the ball past the first defender and made a clean strike which no keeper could have saved. Spurred by this Maidenhead continued to play well, but no goals came.

A West Witney break away saw them drive the ball into the circle and a break down of communication saw the ball go over the line and Maids were 3-1 down.

The rest of the game remained uneventful and sadly Maidenhead conceived again. West Witney were not really better then us but they played well as a team and moved the ball confidently between players.

Maidenhead hopes to forget this weekend and now all focus is coming away with three points from Hampstead and Westminster on Saturday.

* MAIDENHEAD 2's saw another win slip away from their fingers as the Banbury keeper kept the score level in the clash with Banbury.

A lucky break saw Banbury go ahead after a player performed a few stick tackles to get the ball into the Maidenhead D and hit under keeper Wayna Gray.

But finally Maidnehead converted a goal through Fanny Hodge who smoothly fired the ball past the helpless Banbury keeper.

Team: Gray, Wadley, Edgerly, Young, Plumridge, Hodge, Tabone, Crouch, Hohenauer, Debsley, Bowler, Carrick

MatchFacts

SOUTH LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION TWO MAIDENHEAD 1 WEST WITNEY 4

Maidenhead: Stevenson (GK), Eassom, Frost, Townend, Cain , Black, Hinds, Third, Miall. Archer, Keel Subs: Wilkins

Nov 11 2005 ~ ic Berkshire ~ Maidenhead