Sunday morning and with the trains behaving themselves for a change, it was time to make a welcome return to York Road and a reacquaintance with Maidenhead United. I’ve made this journey many times since starting to watch local women’s football four years ago but this was the first time in 18 months I’d been able to get back to the iconic old ground due to an injury practically destroying my season last year.
The league campaign started here with this being the first weekend of the 26/27 FAWNL South West Division season and the fixture computer couldn’t have thrown Maidenhead a more difficult start, against Moneyfields, one of the favourites for promotion this year. The visitors narrowly missed out on the title in 25/26 by just two points after finishing second to Swindon Town. The hurt didn’t stop there as they were beaten on penalties by Norwich City in the promotion play-off but they did at least get the chance to celebrate winning some silverware, beating AFC Portchester in the PDFA Cup Final.
I arrived early and paid the £5 entry on the gate and picked up a programme before heading off in search of a team sheet. Maidenhead have had a reset over the last year or so, with a change in management setup and a revamp of the squad since my last visit but there were still plenty of friendly faces to catch up with including Football in Berkshire’s own Neil Maskell, the club and fixture secretary for both men’s and women’s teams. It was a pleasure to chat with Neil (who kindly printed me a teamsheet) and also catch up with Jason Stewart, the groundsman at the club, who has produced an immaculate playing surface at York Road this season.
On to the game and the visitors made a fast start, captain Megan Fox winning the ball on the edge of the area and feeding Sophia Pharoah overlapping on the right. She was blocked by full back Chloe Webb with Tierney Scott picking up the loose ball and firing a great cross to the far post picking out Keira Heslam whose header flew over the bar.
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Next it was Maidenhead turn to look dangerous, they were awarded a free kick midway in the Moneyfields half. Katie Akerman took the kick which was charged down by the visitors wall, Akerman was first to the loose ball and fired a strike goalwards from fully 35 yards out that looked to be heading into the roof of the net only for Mia King to brilliantly tip the ball over the bar.
The game had a good pace to it in the first twenty minutes with the ball going from end to end. Just before the first hydration break Maidenhead’s Akerman and Simone O’Brien combined well down the right flank before sliding a pass into the box, King came out to try to smother the ball but it squirmed away from her and into the path of Dani Dias who hit her shot wide of the near post under pressure.
On 26 minutes the visitors were ahead and a cracking goal it was too. The home defence gave the ball away a little too easily which allowed Fox to bring it forward. She picked out Keira Heslam on the wing with a perfectly weighted left foot pass, Heslam swept a fantastic cross over towards the far post where Scott appeared from nowhere to bullet a header past a helpless Cherry Preisner in the Magpies goal. 0-1
The away side were on top after the goal and were hungry for a second goal, forcing a couple of corners that were well dealt with by the Maidenhead defence. Moneys didn’t have it all their own way though, debutant Poppy Dearlove was making some intelligent runs from deep, and a superb Akerman inswinging corner from the left beat everyone in the middle and just evaded the outstretched leg of Molly McKeever arriving at the far post.
A mix up in the middle of the park by Maidenhead left Heslam clear to run in on goal. She seemed to be in two minds about crossing or shooting, eventually elected to take the shot but sliced it wide of the goal.
Just on half time a nice passing move by Rebekah Tonks, Pharoah and Scott on the edge of the box released Pukpinya Surin on the overlap. Her cross was blocked away for a corner, Heslam again swinging a left footed cross into a dangerous area but McKeever was there to make an excellent clearing header.
There was quite a bit of added time at the end of the first half after a long break for an injury to Akerman, which thankfully wasn’t serious, and the hydration break, meaning it was nearly 3 o’clock when the half time whistle finally blew.
H-T: Maidenhead United 0 Moneyfields 1
During half time in this game, I had the pleasure of chatting to Chelsea’s legendary ex-goalkeeper Petr Cech whose daughter Adela Cechova is a Czechia Under 17 international and has recently signed for the Magpies. He’s a really nice guy.
The second half began as the first, both teams starting quickly with the game flowing from end to end early on. Maidenhead had the first chance of the second period, O’Brien found herself in space to run into the box, she lined up a shot and tried to find the roof of the net but got underneath it with the ball sailing over the bar.
Eight minutes into the second half Moneyfield doubled their lead, Kaylee Buckingham had a shot from the edge of the box which was parried away full length by Preisner. Scott picked up the loose ball on the right before looking up, picking out Buckingham in the box with a slide rule pass and the striker calmly finished into the top right corner. 0-2
Moneyfields were now on top and won a free kick near the byline on the right side just outside the area. Heslam again curled a beauty towards the far post but none of her team mates running in could get a touch and it drifted harmlessly wide.
The home side were now finding it increasingly difficult to get out of their own half as the visitors pushed on to kill the game off. First, Pharoah found Buckingham in space on the edge of the area, she struck the ball early only to see it flash past the far post. Next, a lovely move featuring Tonks and Scott finished with another shooting chance for Buckingham but this time her shot was well saved low down by Preisner.
Moneyfields substitute Sherise Henry came on in the 72nd minute and made an instant impact. Chasing the ball down as the home side attempted to advance, she got in a great block ten yards inside the Maidenhead half then picked up the loose ball. Running towards goal she took a look up and dissected the two Maidenhead defenders running back with a beautifully weighted pass into the path of Buckingham who made no mistake, finding the corner of the net from just inside the box. 0-3
The home side gamely tried to respond and on a quick break through the middle Dias found herself running into the box one on one with King. Her shot was on target but King managed a great block with her arm to maintain her clean sheet.
Second half substitute Leah Robertson battled well down the right flank to win the ball and showed a good turn of pace running into the box but the covering defender closed her out well.
In added time Moneyfields won a late corner. Heslam hit an inswinging cross from the left towards Fox at the far post who got a touch but saw the ball scrambled away by the keeper and defender on the line for another corner. Heslam trotted all the way over to the right corner flag and this time found the head of Fox on the edge of the six yard box and she guided the ball into the right side of the net to add the icing on the cake with a fourth for the visitors.
The final whistle came moments after the restart and signalled a successful start to the campaign and a first three points on the board for Moneyfields.
F-T: Maidenhead United 0 Moneyfields 4
A convincing scoreline at the end of the game but doesn’t tell the whole story. Maidenhead had their chances but couldn’t take them on the day whereas the visitors were clinical in front of goal. The second goal was the turning point and after doubling their lead, Moneyfields were in complete control of the game and could easily have won by more.
Moneyfields look a top side, they never seem to stop running at defences and always seem to have options. Megan Fox was quality in midfield, Kaylee Buckingham helped herself to a brace and looks an accomplished finisher, Keira Heslam’s set-pieces are always a danger, and they have pace all over the pitch so they will be a handful for any team playing them this season.
It was an enjoyable return to York Road watching two decent teams play a very competitive match and it will have been an encouraging start to the season for both sides with plenty to build on going forward.
All the very best to both for the rest of the season and I’ve no doubt our paths will cross again during 26/27!
