Maidenhead Ladies 1s return to action

Hot off the back of positive results in two friendly games against National league teams in the mid-season break, Maidenhead returned to league action this week with a home fixture against Horsham.

The game began slowly for Maidenhead and they seemed on the back-foot for the first ten minutes. Horsham were keen to take the lead and pressurised the Maidenhead back line several times but to no avail.

Gradually Maidenhead began to control the game as they started to pull together as a team and play some good passing hockey. Horsham looked vulnerable everytime Maidenhead attacked the D and they were rewarded with a few short corners that the keeper did well to save.

Eventually Maidenhead’s persistence paid off when Holly Cram beautifully converted a pinpoint cross from Alex Teasdale with a deflection past the stranded keeper.

Then a further opportunity fell to Shona Young who converted off a rebound to double the lead, 2-0. This gave Maidenhead further confidence and Horsham never really threatened much for the rest of the first half.

Horsham came out fighting in the second half as they tried to create chances but the back four of Bex Miall, Jo Cox, Katy White and Lucy Rowe stood firm letting little past them or Maidenhead keeper Emma Cross.

Maidenhead continued to dominate and created various chances, passing the ball around the team. The forward line pressed the Horsham defence well and they struggled to work the ball out of their half. Again it was Teasdale who this time won the ball from the Horsham defence to then fire it across for a diving Eddie Westacott to fire home and put the game to bed with ten minutes left.

The game remained 3-1 until Horsham won a short corner right in the last ten seconds of the game. Maidenhead weren’t focused and leaked a further goal from a slipped shot to leave the final score 3-2.

Coach Jane Smith said “It’s a positive start to the second half of our league campaign. We played

some good hockey in patches and defensively we were strong as a unit. I think there are some

smaller aspects that we can improve and build on from today. We need to ensure we go out strong

from the start next week and get us back into the momentum that we had before Christmas.”

MOM: Alex Teasdale