Maidenhead United 1 Aldershot Town LFC 3

Last updated : 10 September 2010 By Mike Wray

Boss Jamie Woodfield made just one change to the side that beat Beaconsfield SYCOB the week before, with Caz Shephard replacing a vacationing Laura Funnell. Kirsty Strachan and Jade Ferguson also returned to the bench, whilst Jenny Maultby was absent.

Woodfield also altered his formation to 4-5-1, opting to play Tracy Marlow as a lone striker.

10 minutes into the game and a brutal challenge from a Maidenhead midfield resulted in Shephard crashing to the ground to the disgust of manager Woodfield and matters were made all the more worse when the referee failed to issue a card. After a couple of minutes of treatment however, the battle-hardened midfielder was able to resume play.

Just after the quarter-hour mark, a corner from Palfreyman evaded everyone and ended up in the back of the Maidenhead net to give The Shots the lead and more importantly, her first goal for the club in only her fourth game as a Shots player.

United began to press following the restart and using the width of their pitch, they began to cause several problems for The Shots back line, but both Tara Coles and Di Smith were able to limit the Maidenhead attacker to just half-chances which they were unable to convert.

The quality of the Aldershot passing improved as the first half went on and the midfield of Sian Houghtonand Emma North along with Shephard, started to dominate and after a cross from Nikki Moore wasn't cleared properly, the ball dropped perfectly to Palfreyman for her to hammer home her second of the game to the delight of her colleagues.

Maidenhead again increased the pressure after the goal and The Shots were forced to defend several corners. Following a Shots corner however, an over-the-top ball landed perfectly to a Maidenhead striker who was able to halve the deficit just minutes before the interval.

HALF-TIME: Maidenhead United 1 Aldershot Town 2

The second half started as the first ended, with Aldershot struggling to get back into the game and having to defend several corners. Maidenhead once again looked dangerous down the wings and created two good chances which both fortunately went wide of their mark to keep The Shots ahead.

Amber Marsh, who picked up a knock early on in the match, was replaced by Stacey Ireland, and as the second half continued, The Shots began to finally regain control of the game.

Marlow, who had worked tirelessly throughout the match, was justly rewarded after riding several tackles in the area, before scoring her well-deserved goal. Palfreyman was then replaced by Strachan to applause from The Shots bench and supporters.

With The Shots looking to close the game and Maidenhead looking for a way back in, the game was far from over. Maidenhead shot high and wide from a free kick just outside the Aldershot area and forced Leslie Hubbard to collect several balls which were overhit for the on-running Maidenhead players. A great interchange of passes between Gayler, Shephard and Strachan resulted in an inch-perfect cross being placed over the bar by the advancing Marlow.

Aldershot played out the final minutes of the match by forcing Maidenhead to defend, with the referee ending the match to the sheer joy of the red camp.

FULL TIME: Maidenhead United 1 Aldershot Town 3

Referee: J Hey (Berkshire)


Aldershot Town squad: Hubbard, Gayler, Marsh (Ireland), Smith, Coles, Houghton, North, Moore (Wallman), Shephard, Palfreyman (Strachan), Marlow
Subs: Ferguson

Maidenhead United squad: Parker, Busby, Barette, Thompson, Williams, Jarratt, Rositon, Callaway, Saunders, Snow, Ekins
Subs: Barker, Pilley, Thomas


The Shots' reward for beating Maidenhead United is an away tie against Division One side Boscombe Albion on 7th November.

Aldershot travel to Portsmouth University this weekend, before hosting surprise league leaders Woodley Saints on 19th September. Kick-off for all matches is 2pm.


Results
League Cup Preliminary Round:
Basingstoke Town 5-4 Wycombe Wanderers
Bracknell Town 5-1 University of Portsmouth
Maidenhead United 1-3 Aldershot Town
Oxford United 3-1 Southampton Women

Premier League:
Shanklin 4-0 Reading Town
Woodley Saints 3-1 Launton

Fixtures: 12 September
Premier League:
Bracknell Town vs Reading Town
Launton vs Maidenhead United
Shanklin vs Beaconsfield SYCOB
University of Portsmouth vs Aldershot Town
Woodley Saints vs Wycombe Wanderers


If you'd like to find out more news on the Aldershot Town Ladies Football Club, click here.