Maidenhead & Windsor

On a bright but crisp day Maidenhead took on top of the league Chichester, buoyed by the return of captain Nick Roberts, keeper Spencer Bird, and the arrival of new signing Matt McConkey.

But the mood was soon punctured as Chichester hammered another nail in the coffin as Maidenhead's plunge down the the table continued.

The Berkshire team started brightly enough and enjoyed good spells of possession in the first ten minutes.

Chichester eventually broke the deadlock when the ball fell unkindly for sweeper Anthony Gaze, allowing the Chichester striker the chance to smartly slot the ball past the Maidenhead keeper.

After sustained pressure Chichester scored a further two goals from short corners, the decisions on the part of the umpires could only be described as dubious.

Chichester went on to score a further corner before the break, this time a deflection flummoxing the Maidenhead defence.

The second half saw the Maidenhead team start with more urgency and as result the midfield could involve the forward line to better effect.

Again luck appeared to conspire against Maidenhead when the Chichester forwards caught Maidenhead on the break, and added a fifth to their tally.

Keeper Spencer Bird made a sharp stick save before being hit in the throat from yet another successful short corner strike.

Bockett-Pugh, however, was on hand to take over the goal keeping duties.

Chichester added a seventh shortly before the end, calmly sliding the ball passed the fully stretched substitute keeper.

Maidenhead did create opportunities in the second half with good interlinking play between Roberts in midfield and striker Matt McConkey. Unfortunately the ball just would not cross the line.

Performances from Roberts, Matt McConkey and man of the match winner Neel Sood were also on the positive side.

Trysports Three Counties Division 2 Maidenhead 3 2 Windsor 2 0

Maidenhead ended their losing streak when they came out of their match on saturday with an excellent team win.

Maidenhead started off strongly against local oppositition Windsor and put the Windsor goal under costant pressure.

It wasnt long before a goal came from a move by Ali Holton clearing the ball out of defence to Claire Saxon and onto EG Bowler on the right wing.

Bowler dribbled the ball into the D when she slipped it behind her where man of the match Daisy Gardner was waiting and who showed great reverse skill when she swept the ball into the backboard.

The second half began with the Maidenhead defence of Cat Booker, Gill Godbold, Ali Holton and Olivia Cooke have no trouble in keeping Windsor at bay leaving Keeper Katie Hudson with nothing to do at all.

But play soon began to get a bit ragged. An injury meant a 10 minute break but Maidenhead regrouped and were unlucky not to score from runs in at the D from Claire Saxon, EG Bowler and Daisy Gardner and a series of short corners.

Eventually, from a short corner a strike from Bowler was deflected to Fran Roberts whose shot at goal was stopped on the line by a Windsor foot.

Gardner kept her cool and had no trouble slotting the ball home.

ic Berkshire ~ Maidenhead ~ Nov 25 2005