Maidenhead Ladies 1st XII 2 – 0 Horsham

Maidenhead won their first game 0-2 away at Horsham after relegation to South Premier from National league at the end of last season, which saw them miss out on staying up by just a solitary goal in a close play-off battle.

In the off-season and off the back of the women’s GB hockey team winning gold at Rio in the summer, Maidenhead has picked up many players of all standards. The first team squad has picked five new players alone and with Jane Smith taking a more focused coaching role, these combined factors have provided a needed boost for the forthcoming season.

This newly strengthened first team squad were able to take control of their first league game within the first ten minutes. Creating opportunities across the pitch but a lack of composure often meant the final ball was intercepted, or play was broken down by the opposition.

Eventually it took a superb piece of individual skill from Holly Cram to juggle the ball in the air and into the D, only for her to be fouled cynically by the Horsham defender. This resulted in a straight penalty flick which Cram then coolly converted in the bottom corner.

The 0-1 lead remained for most of the game with Maidenhead having a majority of the ball but unable to finish or create the scoring opportunities to capitalise on all the possession they had. The last ten minutes saw Horsham desperately trying to penetrate the Maidenhead defence but to no avail. Jo, Cox, Bex Miall, Katy White, Lucy Rowe and Nic Perkins all proving too strong for Horsham to break.

With a few minutes left it took coach Jane Smith to come off the bench for a stint on the pitch and secure the game. A short corner was won and Smith slammed it home first time to kill the game.

MOM: Lyndsey Harwood