Page 11 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.30 2022-23

Maidenhead Utd 2 Selsey Women 0
Maidenhead United ensured another season at National League level with a 2-0 home
win over Selsey at York Road.
The Berkshire side went into the game requiring a point to confirm that they would
be at the same level and put themselves beyond the reach of Larkhall Athletic, who lost
anyway to AFC Bournemouth on the day.
Two first half goals and a solid disciplined second half defensive display to
preserve a second successive clean sheet secured a hard won three points against a lively
Selsey team.
Home keeper Gemma Harvey was the first into action with a diving save from a low
cross but the hosts were soon on the attack forcing Seals keeper Nicole Robinson to
move quickly off her line to block from Nat Cowell.
The Magpies took the lead on 11 minutes when Cowell fired in a low free kick from
around 25 yards which skidded in the bottom left corner past Robinson.
Maidenhead were playing with confidence and moving the ball sweetly at times,
one flowing move from a Harvey short goal kick passing through five home players and
ending with another brave block by Robinson on the edge of her area. Selsey were
denied an equaliser on 18 minutes when Harvey got down well to hold after another
good break down the left and a cross to the far post.
Sarah Thompson set up the crucial second goal on 28 minutes with a lofted free
kick from 35 yards out which beat Robinson, crashed down off the underside of the bar
and was cleverly turned home by Imogen Fisher as the ball bounced awkwardly a yard
out.
Selsey mounted pressure on the home goal before the break to no avail and
continued in the same vein on the restart. The home team were restricted to occasional
counters as Selsey, driven on by skipper Nicky Lake, piled on the pressure.
However, such was the discipline of the Magpies team in protecting their lead that
Harvey was only forced into one crucial save on 72 minutes, blocking an angled shot
from close range for a corner.
Maidenhead saw out the win and nearly added a late third on the break but the job
had been well done after a good competitive encounter which brought the Magpies to
within a point of their opponents and two other clubs on 22 points ahead on the final
game of the season in which Maidenhead have recovered from a difficult start with real
team spirit.
Maidenhead Utd: Gemma Harvey, Bethan Poole, Sarah Thompson, Amy Saunders,
Gemma Bloor, Kajal Malhotra, Vicky Carvill, Imogen Fisher, Natalie Cowell, Eva-
Leanne Thomas, Aleasha Lunn. Subs: Izzy Stockton, Ines Cipriano, Simone O’Brien,
Anja Harper, Amelie Mayani.
Selsey Women: Nicole Robinson, Rhiannon Hambleton, Amber Howden, Nicky
Lake, Emma Blakely, Molly Jones, Skye Bacon, Sophia Poling, Georgia Luckhurst-
McCord, Gemam Staple, Maisie Guymer. Subs: Natasha Wild, Kate Delillis, Amelia
Atterbury.

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