Megan hits wonder goal but United come up just short
Maidenhead United Women
Exeter City Women 3,
Maidenhead United Women 1 Maidenhead United Women came up just short at the end of their long trip down to Exeter City in the FA Women’s National League Cup Determining Round, despite a wonder goal from left wing-back Megan Halfacree, writes Neil Maskell.
The Magpies trailed early on down in Devon as Connie Pengelly tapped home at the far post, but the visitors shrugged off their early lethargy and were deservedly level when Halfacree took a pass from Tina Brett fully thirty yards from goal and let fly with a wonderful effort that flew into the top corner.
Halfacree has now scored twice in successive games since returning to York Road, having scored just once in thirty games in her first spell. The talented defender recalled after the match: “Tina won the ball in the middle of the pitch and played the ball to me. I looked up and saw I had space so I drove forward and then shot from distance.” Parity lasted barely five minutes however as a rather soft-looking penalty was awarded for an alleged push on Sarah Stacey and Zoe Watkins beat Gemma
Harvey from the spot. The lead was doubled and the scoring completed on the hour mark when Pengelly headed home Phoebe Baker’s corner. The Magpies defeat means that they will now compete in the FAWNL Plate.
Despite the result, new manager Ed Jackson-Sankey reflected: “Today against one of the title favourites we have shown that in moments we can
compete with sides at the top of the league. We have shown that we can play and take the ball under pressure and keep the ball for ten, eleven, twelve consecutive passes and have spells of sustained possession.”
The Magpies are back in league action on Sunday when they visit a Cardiff City side which boasts a 100 per cent record this season.