Maidenhead United Women score six at Worthing and soar up to fifth

Maidenhead United Women celebrate their win over Worthing. Photo: MUFC

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Having inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Swindon Town Women, Maidenhead United Women went on to dish out six of the best to struggling Worthing on Sunday.

Producing one of their best away displays of the season, the Magpies completed a league double over the struggling Sussex side and avenged their surprise defeat to them in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup back in September.

There were also five different goalscorers on the scoresheet for Dave Kitson’s patient side, who worse down their opponents before running riot in the second half.

The Rebels largely frustrated the Magpies during the first half, but Kitson’s side went through the gears to take the match away from them in the second.

Highlights | Five different scorers of six goals.

️ Worthing FChttps://t.co/mQtj0RRzmy

— Maidenhead United Women (@mufcyorkroadwfc) February 11, 2026

There was one change from the side which had stunned title-chasing Swindon Town the previous weekend, with club captain Katie Akerman coming back into the side for the injured Myah Baksh. This necessitated a change in shape for the Magpies, but they adapted well and made a bright start with Lyndsey Preston forcing a save from Ella Hunkin in the home goal.

From the resultant corner Akerman also tested the Rebels keeper.

The game was a rather slow burner though, with United struggling to play with the tempo needed to really trouble their hosts.

Sarah Sparrow shot over the top after Preston and top-scorer Izzy Stockton linked up. Captain Simone O’Brien was next to go close; she spun at the far post when receiving a pass from Stockton but saw her shot blocked. Megan Harper was next to receive a telling pass from Stockton, Hunkin saving the shot as the pressure grew. Stockton herself was then denied by a brilliant Hunkin save after latching onto an intelligent ball from Preston.

The home side will have been happier to get into the half-time interval on level terms, but Maidenhead made the breakthrough within minutes of the second period starting. A picture-book goal it was too, with O’Brien receiving the ball on the edge of the area and sending a dipping effort over the head of Hunkin to make it 1-0.

The lead was extended before the hour mark when Stockton tapped home after Hunkin had saved well from Harper. The game was settled five minutes later with the team goal of the game. Stockton held the ball up for Akerman to spray a first-time pass to O’Brien on the left. Her pass into the box was held up cleverly by Harper who touched the ball onto the onrushing Charles who hit the roof of the net with her first time shot from 15 yards.

The Magpies found the net three more times before the final whistle as the home side tired.

Goalkeeper Kenny Clarke’s long clearance saw Harper beat the offside line and finish right footed past the exposed Hunkin. The Worthing keeper was then caught in no-man’s land as Akerman’s hurried effort from distance rolled apologetically into the net.

The scoring was completed by Stockton, taking advantage of a loose pass and sending the ball into the bottom corner. Clarke had to be alert to palm a free kick from Hazlewood away from goal to preserve a very well-deserved clean sheet.

The result lifts the Magpies to fifth, now just five points back from fourth-placed Bridgwater United.

It was their fourth league win in six matches and will further lift spirits heading into Sunday’s Berks & Bucks Senior Women’s Cup clash at Milton Keynes Dons

(kick-off 2pm).