Maidenhead & Windsor

South League Premier Div 2 Maidenhead 0 West Hampstead 1

The meteoric decline of Maidenhead's first team continued at Altwood where they ended the day with their ninth straight defeat after starting the season with two victories.

Maidenhead were determined to earn a vital three points in their last league game before Christmas and close the gap on the sides above them in the league.

A slight reshuffling of their defence with the return of Matt Cresey and Neel Sood missing on an early Christmas holiday.

The game started scrappily with neither side able to get into any sort of rhythm, and although West Hampstead had the better of a dour half neither side looked like breaking the deadlock.

The only moments of note were a superb save with his legs by Spencer Bird to deny the visitors and a couple of penalty corners dragged wide by Matt McConkey.

The second half was even more wretched for the few spectators who had braved the cold.

Maidenhead occasionally looked dangerous on the break but seemed more interested in sniping at the umpires than pressing for a vital win.

West Hampstead eventually broke the deadlock as they took advantage of a momentary hesitation in the home defence to fire a reverse stick shot past into the bottom corner. As time ran out Maidenhead upped the pace and exerted real pressure on the West Hampstead goal but despite creating numerous opportunities they could not find the final touch to get a much needed equaliser.

Maidenhead head into the Christmas break several points adrift of safety but hoping a strong start will quickly pull them back into contention.

The Maidenhead club's top women's side did little better,losing their rearranged match with Oxford Hawks with a 4-0 scoreline.

ic Berkshire ~ Maidenhead ~ Dec 16 2005