Brown’s boys won’t take PHC for granted

Maids captain hopeful of extending unbeaten run in 2020

Maidenhead Men’s 1sts are yet to be beaten in 2020, but captain Chris Brown says they can’t afford to take anything for granted against PHC Chiswick on Saturday.

Maids came up to the Premier Division 2 West Division with Chiswick last season, but have spent most of the season down in the lower reaches of the table after making what Brown calls ‘a stuttering start’.

On Saturday they were held to a 3-3 draw by Henley at Altwood School, despite holding the advantage in the second half. They also passed up several chances to secure what would have been their second win of the year.

They remain in ninth position, with 12 points from 13 matches, but victory on Saturday would take them level on points with Chiswick.

“Yeah it should be a fun game,” said Brown.

“We’ve had a good record against them in the past and we beat them earlier in the season, but we can’t afford to take anything for granted.

“They’ve been more consistent than us so far and have managed to be the more productive side. We’ll have to be physically and mentally strong because they won’t let us rest on the ball.”

For the same game in a row Matt Keylock netted twice as Maids were held by Henley at Altwood School. Will Strang was also on target for the hosts, with Chris Green,

Luke Gupta and Rhys Joyce replying for the visitors, but

Maidenhead Men’s 1sts played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Henley at Altwood School.

the result was fair on both sides according to Brown.

“We took the lead following some good early pressure,” said Brown. “They got it back to 2-1 and then we were 3-2 up, but they managed to get another leveller and neither side really did enough to come away with the win.

“We probably felt more disappointed at the end than they did, because we had periods of sustained pressure and created a lot of chances.

“But they showed their experience at times. We had a great chance at 3-3 but they managed to scramble the ball clear.

“A point is a point though and we haven’t lost in 2020. We feel like we’ve got more momentum now and there’s a positive feeling that we can climb up the table. We had a stuttering start to the season which wasn’t good but we’ve only lost by more than one goal once and have never

really been outplayed.”

W Maidenhead Women’s 1sts avoided defeat in their first match of 2020 on Saturday as they held fourth placed London Wayfarers 1sts to a 2-2 draw at Altwood School.

Sophie Phillip and Eddie Westacott were on target as ninth placed Maids continued their impressive recent form. They’ll be back in action on Saturday when they visit the team just above them, Reading Ladies 2nds.