Maidenhead Ladies 3s kicked off the season in style with a fantastic 4-0 win over Amersham & Chalfont. There were a few early nerves, with some players moving up from other ladies' teams and others returning to hockey after a while. Despite that, the team showed heaps of energy and determination. Izzy and Georgia Cooke connected beautifully, leading to an early tap-in from Ruth Dries, putting Maidenhead up 1-0 by half-time.

Towards the end of the first half, we faced a couple of defensive short corners, but the team remained determined to keep the ball out and preserve the clean sheet. The defence held strong, and we went into the break still in control.

As the rain started to fall, A&C came out stronger after the break, but Maidenhead were ready. Anna Dunford quickly doubled the lead with a well-taken goal. Chloe and Holly Hughes then pulled off a fantastic sibling link-up, driving the ball up the pitch and slotting in a third goal.

A&C put up a fight with some strong attacks, but Maidenhead's defence, expertly marshalled by Ellie Payne in goal, stood firm, keeping the clean sheet intact.

With just under 10 minutes left, Romi Ledesma sealed the win with a final goal, capping off an exciting start to the season. Big thanks to Sophie Boycott and Laura Jackson for their brilliant sideline support.

Player of the match was a tough call, given the huge team effort, but it went to Ellie Payne for guiding us from the back and making crucial saves when it mattered most. What a way to kick things off!