Hannah Barrett struck twice in the first half as MK Dons Ladies put seven past Norwich City Ladies and climbed to the top of the FAWPL South East Division One table.
Barrett grabbed the first goal of the game, taking only three minutes to do so, as she volleyed home a Kerry Newman cross.
A mere eight minutes later, the Dons doubled their advantage through Charley Clarke, who converted from Charly Wright’s perfect corner. Barrett grabbed her second of the game shortly after, slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net from just inside the box.
The Dons ended their first half of goalscoring with a brilliant 25-yard lob from Sammy Gillings, which made the score 4-0 in the Dons’ favour.
The second half brought more goals for the Dons as, not long after the restart, Newman got on the score-sheet, firing home a long pass from Leanna Doyle.
Doyle, not settling for just an assist, scored an impressive volley from outside the box to make it 5-0, after City had attempted to clear a corner.
Leading goalscorer Leah Cudone then grabbed the last goal of the game, converting Rebecca Vass’ impressive cross.
The Dons saw out the game, for the few minutes that remained, keeping their clean-sheet intact.
The game had a lively start, with it taking only three minutes for the first goal to be scored. Barrett made the most of her first opportunity of the game, volleying home a cross from Newman.
The Dons kept the pressure on Norwich, as it took only eight minutes for one of the corners that the Dons had won to pay off. Wright whipped the ball into the box, which Clarke struck powerfully into the goal.
Chances continued to fall for the Dons, with Barrett and Newman having attempts to extend their side’s lead, but were denied by the Canaries goalkeeper.
However, the Dons were in a clinical mood against their visitors and despite their opposition’s best efforts, the side went 3-0 up as Barrett accurately guided the ball from inside the box to the bottom corner of the net.
As Norwich tried to get a foothold in the game before half time, defender Gillings found herself in space after an attacking attempt. Gillings then proceeded to lob the goalkeeper from 25 yards out, making for a memorable goal.
After half-time, the Dons did not want to sit on their lead, with Doyle playing a long ball diagonally across towards the back post, where Newman was waiting to pounce and guide it home to grab the Dons’ fifth goal of the game.
Several corners in the Dons favour followed but it was from a corner being cleared that the Dons’ grabbed a sixth goal. As Norwich City Ladies attempted to clear the danger, the ball fell to Doyle on the outside of the box and she volleyed it into the bottom corner with ease.
The Dons then successfully kept Norwich from denying them a clean sheet, remaining organised at the back.
To round off the impressive performance, the Dons grabbed a seventh goal as substitute Rebecca Vass crossed the ball for Cudone to tap home.
Speaking after the game, James Honeyman said: “It was one of our best performances, particularly attacking-wise, even if at times we were lazy out of possession.
“We were dominant and showed how good we were when in attacking positions, along with our back four remaining organised as a unit.”
After their comfortable victory, the Dons now sit one point clear of Cambridge United, who have two games in hand.
Honeyman speaking about being top of the league, said: “We’re glad to get there, we know teams have games in hand, but we would rather have the points on the board than the games.
“This is just the start – the goal now is to stay in this position at the top of the league until the end of the season.”
Starting XI: Smith, Holland, Howes, Gillings, Doyle, Clarke, Wright, Newman, Naylor (Newsome, 65) Gooderham (Vass, 70) Barrett (Cudone, 75).
Goals: Barrett (3, 20), Clarke (11), Gillings (37), Newman (48), Doyle (69), Cudone (79)
Attendance: 68
A mere eight minutes later, the Dons doubled their advantage through Charley Clarke, who converted from Charly Wright’s perfect corner. Barrett grabbed her second of the game shortly after, slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net from just inside the box.
The Dons ended their first half of goalscoring with a brilliant 25-yard lob from Sammy Gillings, which made the score 4-0 in the Dons’ favour.
The second half brought more goals for the Dons as, not long after the restart, Newman got on the score-sheet, firing home a long pass from Leanna Doyle.
Doyle, not settling for just an assist, scored an impressive volley from outside the box to make it 5-0, after City had attempted to clear a corner.
Leading goalscorer Leah Cudone then grabbed the last goal of the game, converting Rebecca Vass’ impressive cross.
The Dons saw out the game, for the few minutes that remained, keeping their clean-sheet intact.
The game had a lively start, with it taking only three minutes for the first goal to be scored. Barrett made the most of her first opportunity of the game, volleying home a cross from Newman.
The Dons kept the pressure on Norwich, as it took only eight minutes for one of the corners that the Dons had won to pay off. Wright whipped the ball into the box, which Clarke struck powerfully into the goal.
Chances continued to fall for the Dons, with Barrett and Newman having attempts to extend their side’s lead, but were denied by the Canaries goalkeeper.
However, the Dons were in a clinical mood against their visitors and despite their opposition’s best efforts, the side went 3-0 up as Barrett accurately guided the ball from inside the box to the bottom corner of the net.
As Norwich tried to get a foothold in the game before half time, defender Gillings found herself in space after an attacking attempt. Gillings then proceeded to lob the goalkeeper from 25 yards out, making for a memorable goal.
After half-time, the Dons did not want to sit on their lead, with Doyle playing a long ball diagonally across towards the back post, where Newman was waiting to pounce and guide it home to grab the Dons’ fifth goal of the game.
Several corners in the Dons favour followed but it was from a corner being cleared that the Dons’ grabbed a sixth goal. As Norwich City Ladies attempted to clear the danger, the ball fell to Doyle on the outside of the box and she volleyed it into the bottom corner with ease.
The Dons then successfully kept Norwich from denying them a clean sheet, remaining organised at the back.
To round off the impressive performance, the Dons grabbed a seventh goal as substitute Rebecca Vass crossed the ball for Cudone to tap home.
Speaking after the game, James Honeyman said: “It was one of our best performances, particularly attacking-wise, even if at times we were lazy out of possession.
“We were dominant and showed how good we were when in attacking positions, along with our back four remaining organised as a unit.”
After their comfortable victory, the Dons now sit one point clear of Cambridge United, who have two games in hand.
Honeyman speaking about being top of the league, said: “We’re glad to get there, we know teams have games in hand, but we would rather have the points on the board than the games.
“This is just the start – the goal now is to stay in this position at the top of the league until the end of the season.”
Starting XI: Smith, Holland, Howes, Gillings, Doyle, Clarke, Wright, Newman, Naylor (Newsome, 65) Gooderham (Vass, 70) Barrett (Cudone, 75).
Goals: Barrett (3, 20), Clarke (11), Gillings (37), Newman (48), Doyle (69), Cudone (79)
Attendance: 68
