Fulham Women suffered shoot-out heartbreak as Maidenhead United clinched their first silverware for eight years by winning the Combined Counties League Cup final on penalties at Burnham FC last night.
The Whites were hoping to finish their campaign on a high after finishing third in the league but were denied by the lottery of the shootout with a wayward second spot-kick proving critical. They had shown great spirit to recover from the setback of conceding first despite having dominated the opening twenty minutes. Simone O’Brien was rewarded for chasing down what looked like a lost cause as her cross reached Natalie Cowell who teed up Izzy Stockton’s venomous volley.
Fulham grew into the game and equalised within ten minutes when Tessa Allen lashed in a low effort from the edge of the box and they looked the likelier winners once Sasha Adamson converted a fine cross from Ede Buchele. Chloe Christison-McNee might have extended the Cottagers’ advantage but drilled over and Steve Jaye’s side paid the penalty for not putting the tie to bed when they switched off from a set piece allowing Sarah Thompson to nod home Macey-Nikiah Walters’ free-kick with five minutes to play.
The Whites almost won it in stoppage time but Maidenhead goalkeeper Rosie Wilmott-Joyce made a stunning save from substitute Ruby Murtagh to ensure the final went all the way to penalties. Maidenhead, who had seen off the likes of QPR and Watford’s academy to reach the final, converted all of their spot-kicks to claim the title. Fulham will need to regroup over the summer as they once again target promotion from the London and South East Premier Division.
MAIDENHEAD FC WOMEN: Wilmott-Joyce; Gregory, Meadows-Tuson, Thompson, Saunders, Topping, Rasmussen, O’Brien, Nikiah-Walters, Stockton, Cowell. Subs: Jauad-Taborda, Carvill, Esprit, Hockey, Lunn.
GOALS: Stockton (20), Thompson (85).
FULHAM FC WOMEN: Parker; Allen, Southgate, Todd-Warmouth; Huntrods, Lewis, McNee, Walters; Connelley, Adamson, Buchele. Subs: Dale, Barron-Clark, Humphries, Almendros, Murtagh.
GOALS: Allen (30), Adamson (53).
