Ladies in seventh heaven

Two goals in the opening four minutes saw the ladies get themselves off to the best of starts with debutant May Hamblin scoring from a Bonnie Messitt assist and then Messitt set last season’s leading goal scorer Rosie Page-Smith up for the second.

Playing up the slope United was dominant and it was no surprise when Page-Smith score of the upright following another Messitt cross.

United saw a corner cleared off the Maidenhead goal line before a Messitt corner was not defended allowing Mollie Haines to extend the lead on twenty eight minutes. United then sat back and the home team enjoyed a good spell and pulled on back on thirty one minutes to complete the first half scoring.

With Emily Sherwood feeling unwell Messitt done the gloves for the second half and was quickly beaten by a lob after eight minutes as United were lethargic in their play. This was the wake-up call needed as the visitors regained composure and attacked freely with Hamblin involved in much of the play and Mollie Haines dangerous on the right wing.

May was fouled on fifty six minutes but Page-Smith was denied her hat trick when her penalty was saved by Emily Boycott. However, the forward did get her third ten minutes later.

Eva Thomas was rewarded for her positive second half attacking play with a debut goal on seventy minutes and Hamblin complete the visitors scoring eight minutes later when good play by Sophie Ali found Page-Smith whose pass to Haines split the defence for the winger to score one on one with keeper Boycott.

Sonia Jones completed the scoring with three minutes remaining when she pounced on a shot Messitt parried.