Magpies are hit For six by Rangers
Maidenhead United Women: Ryan Taylor's side are dumped out
Maidenhead United Women 1, QPR Women 6 Brogan Moore and Melanie Hall scored two goals apiece to help Queens Park Rangers thrash Maidenhead United at York Road and move into the next round of the FA Women’s National League Plate.
The visitors had taken the lead inside just four minutes when Megan Halfacree sliced an attempted clearance from a cross into the back of her own net. QPR then doubled their advantage in the 10th when Joanna Blodgett was teed up to strike a curled effort from outside the area.
Vicky Carvill was able to halve the deficit before the break for her first competitive goal in black-and-white, confidently latching onto a rebound after Kirsty Matthews had a penalty kick in the 38th minute initially saved.
As Maidenhead United manager Ryan Taylor was keen to point out at full-time, the first 15 minutes after the interval were crucial for his side in this tie. But, after the third goal hit the back of the Magpies’ net, they imploded.
“In the first half, it was a very sloppy goal to concede,” he said. “We got ourselves back in it, and even had some good chances to get level.
“We spoke about things at half-time and changed our shape a little bit, and in the first 15 minutes we dominated them (QPR). But, as soon as we conceded the third, the players’ heads went down.
“For the last 25 minutes, the group was passing the buck, putting too much responsibility on other players, and looking for too many excuses. Ultimately, we conceded several goals towards the end of the match because of this.
“It was a disappointing game. It was an opportunity to go into the next round of this Cup, which is what we wanted to do.”
Nicole Barrett had several opportunities in the second half to restore parity, with an effort in the 51st minute tame enough for ‘keeper Erin Pope to collect, and a delivery into the visitors’ box massively overhit.
As a consequence, QPR went on to punish the Magpies and score their third just before the hour mark with Moore thumping away a loose ball. Ten minutes later, the visitors had a fourth courtesy of the midfielder’s instinctive drive from the edge of the area.
Boss Taylor turned to his bench for inspiration with Chrissy Nazif replacing Barrett before new signing Alicia Povey stepped onto the York Road pitch for the first time, replacing Simone O’Brien in the 71st minute.
Tina Brett tried to catch Pope out next – the ‘keeper equal to the effort – before the
ball was used with maximum efficiency down the other end thanks to Hall. The QPR no.11 had her second of the afternoon on the stroke of full-time, a composed strike from outside the box.
It was a thoroughly upsetting Saturday afternoon for the Magpies and captain Amy Saunders who agreed her side were outclassed by a tireless and tenacious QPR outfit. Maidenhead United Women will return to competitive action in a couple of weeks’ time for an FA Cup clash against Chesham.
MAIDENHEAD UNITED (4-3-3): Pollard, Barrett (71’ Nazif), Thompson, Sauders, Bloor, Malhotra, Halfacree, Brett, O’Brien (72’ Povey), Carvill (87’ Thorne), Matthews. Subs all used.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS (3-4-3): Pope, Petit (70’ Carolan), Searle, Redhead-Ling (57’ Curr), Grieve, Lewin (70’ Jordinson), Blodgett, Hennessey, Nygaard-Parsons (57’ Maloney), Moore, Hall. Subs all used.