Jackson-Sankey 'super proud' as Magpies grind out draw with high-flying Bournemouth

Photo credit: Darren Woolley

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Maidenhead United Women boss Ed Jackson-Sankey said he was ‘super proud’ of the resilience shown by his Magpies side as they battled for a hard-earned point against high-flying AFC Bournemouth in front of a Cherries' club-record crowd of 3,067 spectators at The Vitality Stadium.

The Magpies managed to see out the game for an impressive goalless draw, despite playing the final 12 minutes - and five minutes of injury-time - with only 10 players after Megan Halfacree was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Looking to secure a top three finish - and roared on by most of the large enthusiastic crowd - the hosts lacked their usual clinical edge in front of goal while the Magpies displayed their work ethic to secure another useful point in their battle to remain in the fourth tier of women's football.

A youthful, fired-up and pacy Cherries side started the game brightly and forced a corner within the first two minutes of the game which was headed over by Pearl Mortimer. A good link up between Imogen Fisher and Aleasha called the alert ‘keeper Katie Scadding into action for the Dorset side before a ball from the left found Ellie Elkins and her chip was expertly saved by Maidenhead custodian Gemma Harvey.

In an end-to-end half, Lunn’s effort was blocked, and Vicky Carvill tested Scadding from the rebound before an effort from range by Halfacree whistled narrowly passed the frame of the Bournemouth goal. Bethan Poole got in an important block from Lucy Cooper’s goal bound shot as the hosts responded, before Lunn was the next to hit an effort off target after good work by United top-score Nat Cowell.

Perhaps the chance of the game fell to Maidenhead just before the break. United forced several corners in the first half and from one such set piece Kajal Malhotra laid the ball off to Poole who had a god opening but could only pull her shot over the top. The Cherries would go on to dominate much of the second period but were unable to make a breakthrough. Harvey denied Molly Gladwell, Cooper, Kelly Fripp and Jess Treweek as the home side pressed but in truth they were only restricted to half chances, albeit Kajal Malhotra had to make goal line clearances from two set pieces. The dynamic of the game look to have changed in the 78th minute as Halfacree was dismissed for a second yellow card by referee Dom Forrester for pulling back a Bournemouth player. However, United held on with relative comfort with ten players and they had two opportunities of their own in the closing stages, both of which fell to Substitute Simone O’Brien who impressed in her first game back after five months out due to injury.

The Magpies end the season with two home matches. The first of which against Selsey will take place at York Road on Sunday 23rd April, a 2pm kick off. Admission is free for Maidenhead United season ticket holders, otherwise cash admission at the York Road turnstile will be £5 adults, £3 concessions and £1 for under 16s.