Magpies fly into
Maidenhead United Women FC: Jackson-Sankey’s side comfortably
Woodley United 0, Maidenhead United 7 Maidenhead United Women were in seventh heaven on Sunday afternoon as they eased into the semi-final of the Berks & Bucks Cup at the expense of Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Division 1 North Side Woodley United at Bulmershe Pavilion.
The Magpies belied any apparent lack of confidence in front of goal following two successive scoreless defeats to the top two sides in their division, Cardiff City and Exeter City, by scoring within three minutes of the start.
Chrissy Nazif was fouled which gave the opportunity for Megan Halfacree to step up and curl a delightful left footed free-kick into the top corner of the net from 30 yards.
Maidenhead led by two before the break when Halfacree’s dipping set-piece from the other side of the pitch went low into the bottom corner past Woodley ‘keeper Jennifer Heine, following an infringement against Natalie Cowell.
Halfacree and Cowell linked up within moments of the second period as relentless United scored their third, with Simone O’Brien prodding home at the far post and barely five minutes had elapsed after the break when Halfacree remarkably completed a hat-trick of free-kicks with a dipping effort
which was too hot for Heine to handle.
O’Brien also ended up with a treble, scoring with a fierce right footed strike from 18 yards before completing the scoring with a curling free-kick of her own.
Between times, teenagers Anja Harper and Ashlee Withers made composed debuts as substitutes with Harper scoring an astonishing right-footed pile-driver from the corner of the 18-yard box for the Magpies sixth goal.
Manager Ed Jackson-Sankey was understandably delighted with his team. “I’m pleased things came together today,” he said. “It is always difficult for the bigger sides in cup competitions playing against good sides from divisions below, there are always potential banana skins. But, I loved how professional we were and how ruthless we were.”
This weekend, Jackson-Sankey’s side visit Fulham in the FA Cup. The match will be a 2.30pm kick off on Sunday, October 23 at Motspur Park, the Cottagers’ training ground.
Tickets for spectators priced at £5 for adults and £1 for u18s can only be purchased via the Fulham website via fulhamfc.com/matches/women and spectators will have to set up a ticketing account via the FFC website before they can buy.