Maidenhead Ladies 1s take on local rivals

After a week’s break, Maidenhead were back in action away against local rivals, Reading 1a.

Maidenhead started on the front foot and created some early breakthroughs. Unfortunately some questionable umpiring decisions meant Reading were able to keep a clean sheet in the early minutes, despite the Maidenhead pressure.

The first half was played at quite a frantic pace but with neither side really making a mark. Reading managed to find some gaps to create some breakaway attacks and this is how they created the first goal of the game. A through ball finding the Reading forward who managed to bury the ball past keeper, Daisy Ruhle to take Reading to a 1-0 lead.

The second half saw Maidenhead once again have the majority of the play and in patches they played some good passing hockey that enabled them to keep the ball in the attacking half for most of it. This resulted in a short corner that was slipped left to Nic Perkins who coolly sidestepped the incoming defender and then slammed the ball home to equalise for Maidenhead.

Maidenhead continued to dominate the remainder of the half but couldn’t create the chances in front of goal to take home the full three points.

Jane Smith, coach at Maidenhead 1s, said: “We are continuing to build and progress both individually and as a team. The squad felt disappointed today with just the one point but I think there were a lot of positives. There is a long way to go and the team is getting better with each game.”

Maidenhead sit in sixth position with a game in hand on all of those above and Surbiton 2 sit on top.