Magpies rejoice after lifting the league cup
Maidenhead United Women FC: United hold nerve to beat Fulham on penalty kicks
Maidenhead United Women 2,
Fulham FC Women 2
(Maidenhead win 5-3 on penalties)
There were jubilant scenes at Burnham's 1878 Stadium on Wednesday evening as Maidenhead United's Women's side lifted the Combined Counties League Cup following a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Fulham FC's Women.
Club captain Amy Saunders and Sarah Thompson - who thundered home a late header in the 2-2 draw lifted the trophy together in front of their teammates and a large crowd of supporters.
The Magpies deserved this moment as well, having beaten the likes of
QPR Women, Watford FC Development and now Fulham enroute to finishing what's been a record-breaking season with some silverware.
Once again, they didn't do things the easy way, taking the lead through Izzy Stockton's smartly taken left-footed volley in the 20th minute before losing control of the game as the half progressed.
Tessa Allen smashed the side's level with a low, drilled shot from the edge of the area on the half-hour mark, and an injury to the influential Simone O'Brien disrupted the Magpies' performance.
There was also a lengthy stoppage while left-back Isacc Gregory received treatment, but she was ok to continue and 1-1 was about right on the balance of play at the end of the first half.
With the player-of-the-match Sasha Adamson increasingly influential in the second half, Fulham dominated the early stages of the half and grabbed the lead in the 53rd minute when Adamson ran onto a cross from the right and swept the ball beyond Rosie Wilmott-Joyce.
The Magpies looked to be tiring as Fulham penned them inside their own half, but somehow, they showed the resilience and strength of character to come through this tough spell. The experience of Freya Meadows-Tuson Thompson saw them weather Fulham's purple patch while JacksonNorris also made some astute substitutions, with Jade Hockey coming on to replace Amy Saunders in central midfield and RJ Jauad-Taborda giving their attack some extra impetus when she came on for Stockton for the final 15 minutes.
The Magpies also survived a huge penalty shout for Fulham, when their substitute striker Ruby Murtagh appeared to be bundled over in the box by Ruth Topping in the 80th minute, but the referee waved away their appeals.
It proved a pivotal moment as the Magpies went on to dominate the closing stages and deservedly got themselves back on level terms in the 85th minute when Macey-Nikiah Walters - who'd thumped a strike against the upright during an impressive spell for the Magpies in the first half crossed from the right for Thompson to power a header into the Fulham net.
Cue a frantic final five minutes which saw the Magpies largely in the ascendancy but also vulnerable in defence. They needed a huge save from Willmott-Joyce to take the final to spot kicks as Murtagh looked to beat her at the near post, but the Magpies keeper got a big hand to the ball to turn it behind.
She was then a big presence in the goal for the shoot-out, forcing Fulham's second penalty taker to fire her effort over the bar.
By that stage, Walters, and Natasha Rasmussen - with one of the best penalties you're likely to see - had put the Magpies 2-1 ahead in the shootout. United's players continued to show great composure as Jauad-Taborda, Natalie Cowell and Jade Hockey all scored to seal a dramatic win.
Their players raced from the centre circle to celebrate with Hockey and the smiles couldn't be wiped from their faces as they collected their winners' medals and lifted the competition's trophy in front of family, friends, and supporters.