EH 2nd XI Semi-Final
Maidenhead 1-1 Wycombe (after extra time), Penalties Maidenhead 2-1 Wycombe
Wycombe played some of their best hockey of the season in this thrilling semi-final. In very cold and wet conditions, Maidenhead had most of the on-target chances in the first half but were denied by some fantastic diving saves from Wycombe’s man of the match, keeper Jade Hedger.
At half-time the score stood at 0-0. 10 minutes after the break, Maidenhead scored but this spurred Wycombe on with some strong attacking play through the middle. This paid off in the dying moments as Wycombe won a free hit outside the D, pelted in my Karen McKinnon and deflected into the goal by Sophie Cox.
With the score level at full-time we entered a period of tense golden goal extra time. Neither team sat back and there were chances at both ends, but before long it was on to the inevitable penalties, much to the delight of the very vocal crowd.
Wycombe – saved (Dowthwaite) 0-0
Maidenhead – scored 1-0
Wycome – scored (Greenwood Hughes) 1-1
Maidenhead – missed 1-1
Wycombe – saved (Baker) 1-1
Maidenhead – saved 1-1
Wycombe – saved (Clarke) 1-1
Maidenhead – scored 2-1
Wycombe – saved (Stubbs) 2-1
The penalties ended with controversy as Stubbs’ stroke appeared to have crossed the line before becoming caught underneath the Maidenhead goalie. But after discussion the umpires deemed it saved and Wycombe are once again denied a place in the final.
Wycombe: Hedger, Baker, McKinnon, Jones, Rutherford, Dowthwaite, Cox, Howland, Lada, Stubbs, Greenwood-Hughes, Clarke.